Airdrop fuels austere Afghan locations

Published Aug. 17, 2009
By Staff Sgt Stacia Zachary
USAFCENT Combat Camera Team

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- The United States Air Force airdropped a record-breaking 3.3 million pounds of supplies into Afghanistan during the month of July. This is the most to be dropped into Afghanistan since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom and tops June's record 3.2 million pounds.

The 77nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, based here, contributed more than 276,000 pounds to the record, delivering equipment, ammunition and other supplies ranging from fuel to food and water to fellow servicemembers and coalition partners throughout the country.

Airdrops have become a reliable method for shipping vital supplies into locations that are devoid of navigable roadways, composed of treacherous terrain features, and pose other threats.

"We're using airlift to overcome the challenges that the terrain presents," said Capt. Tucker McEwen, 772nd EAS C-130J Hercules co-pilot. "We air drop into austere locations when the loads are too great for (helicopters) to accommodate or (when) vehicles can't maneuver without extreme risk from the environment, weather or hostile threat."

Recently, the 772nd delivered JP-8 fuel via an airdrop to servicemembers in the country's western region. For that mission, the pallets each contained two drums of JP-8 fuel and were rigged with low-cost aerial delivery system parachutes that open upon launch from the aircraft.

The drop zones were pre-determined and identified using grid locations. During flight, the pilots maintained communication with ground crews tasked with retrieving the loads.

"In this case, the mission required only communication with ground control and grid coordinates," said Captain McEwen. "The mission will dictate everything from type of marker to whether we drop at night or during daylight."

Once the C-130J Hercules gets to a set location, the loadmasters prepare the bundles to be offloaded.

When the aircraft nears the drop zone, the pilots signal the loadmasters. Last minute checks are performed and the loadmasters run through their checklists.

"We have to make sure everything is squared away with the pallets because things tend to shift in flight," said Staff Sgt. Brian Commadore, a 772nd EAS loadmaster.

"It's important that the rigging is still good and the release locks are tight," added Tech. Sgt. Wayne Witter, a 772nd EAS loadmaster. "Our goal is to do everything to make certain those pallets roll off perfectly and every "chute" opens. The last-minute checks are important because they ensure we're doing everything on our end to make this a win."

When the plane draws closer to the drop zone, the loadmasters don additional safety equipment before the ramp and door are opened.

Once the aircraft is over the drop zone, the aircraft computer programmed by the pilots automatically turns on a green light, signaling the loadmasters to release the pallets. The aircraft computer program accounts for the drift of a particular type of parachute, the weight of the load, wind velocity and other variables. The pallets can be released manually by cutting the line or through a timer and pulley system.

Airdrops are just one aspect of the 772nd EAS mission. More supplies are being moved into and around theater enabling the military to conduct operations. The supplies not only help sustain ground forces but also aid in Afghanistan's restoration and strengthening its military.

"People who have absolutely no way of getting a resupply of equipment or even food rely on us and these airdrops," said Capt. Dan Rees, 772nd EAS aircraft commander. "As long as there are guys on the ground who need us, we're going to fly. It's all about working as a team to help this country succeed."