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Mobility Airmen gather for international airdrop symposium

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Mobility Airmen from 26 countries are participating in the 2011 International Airdrop Symposium here July 19-21.

The symposium features a collection of people from throughout the world to exchange tactics, techniques and ideas on conducting airdrops, said Maj. Patrick Linson, symposium chairperson from St. Joseph, Mo., where he serves as a combat tactics instructor in the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, or AATTC.

"This symposium is important to build international partnerships in the airdrop and airlift communities," Linson said. "For this symposium, our goal is to have all of our international partners participating to share their ideas and techniques for us all to learn to complete airdrops even better. Sharing these techniques is naturally beneficial to all involved."

During the three-day symposium, participants will hear briefings on the future of airdrop, how airdrops made a difference in Haiti operations in 2010, as well as more about the U.S. Army's role in the U.S. military's airdrop mission. International participants, to include partners from Canada, Columbia, Japan and Australia, will also share their techniques on airdrops.

"In the spirit of cooperation, this effort will help with airdrop improvements for years to come," Linson said.

As of June 30, 2011, in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, mobility Airmen performing airdrops have dropped more than 39.5 million pounds of cargo to troops in austere locations in areas such as Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom, U.S. Air Forces Central statistics show. In doing those airdrops, U.S. forces have used airdrop platforms such as the Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) and the Low-Cost, Low-Altitude (LCLA) Airdrop System.

JPADS is a "high-altitude, all-weather capable, global positioning system-guided, precision airdrop system that provides increased control upon release from the aircraft," AMC facts show. Traditional airdrops by Air Force airlifters, such as the C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III, are at altitudes of anywhere between 400 and 1,000 feet. With JPADS, those same airlift aircraft have the potential to guide air drop bundles from as high as 25,000 feet.

The LCLA airdrop platform is one highlighted in demonstrations for the symposium, Linson said. Used with C-130s, an LCLA airdrop is accomplished by dropping bundles weighing 80 to 500 pounds, with pre-packed expendable parachutes, in groups of up to four bundles per pass, facts show. The drops are termed "low-cost" reflecting the relative expense of the expendable parachutes compared to their more durable, but pricier nylon counterparts. "Low-altitude" alludes to the relative height from which bundles are released from the aircraft.

"The LCLA is an effective system," Linson said. "The demonstrations are an important part of this symposium."

Linson has coordinated this conference with Master Sgt. Philip Moss, a co-coordinator also from the AATTC. Linson said having the Total Force effort by the active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen of AATTC - who have seven Airmen at Joint Base Lewis-McChord -- to lead the symposium is important.

"At the school, the Total Force group of people we have works with at least 15 international partners on a regular basis," Linson said. "So coming here and working with this symposium is a natural fit to our normal operations."

The mission of the AATTC is to "provide current academic and combat flying training tactics to airlift aircrews of the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, active duty Air Force, sister services and allied nations," the center's fact sheet states. AATTC also functions as a clearing house for gathering and disseminating airlift tactics information by means of an annual tactics symposium. The AATTC also teaches Combat Aircrew Tactics Studies, Mobility Commander Tactics Course and the Advanced Airlift Mobility Intel Course.

Participants in the airdrop symposium are also participating in Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord which takes place July 24-29.