Single C-17 sets airdrop record

The snow-covered mountains of Afghanistan are seen from the cockpit of an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. The humanitarian aid airdropped in the region help Afghans make it through the harsh winter months. The C-17 and accompanying aircrew are deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Gabriel Greiss)

Single C-17 sets airdrop record

Pallets of humanitarian aid sit aboard an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III that airdropped 32,400 pounds of humanitarian aid within 40 minutes to four locations in central and eastern Afghanistan Thursday, March 16, 2006. The C-17 and accompanying aircrew are deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Gabriel Greiss)

Single C-17 breaks airdrop record

Published March 21, 2006
By Staff Sgt. Melissa Koskovich
U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- A single Air Force C-17 Globemaster III airdropped 32,400 pounds of humanitarian aid within 40 minutes to four locations in central and eastern Afghanistan March 16.

This feat marked the most cargo airdropped to this many drop-zones in the shortest amount of time from a single aircraft in the history of U.S. airdrop operations, said Lt. Col. Charles Ciuzio, chief of the Air Mobility Division at the Combined Air Operations Center here.

The C-17 and accompanying aircrew are deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing from McChord Air Force Base, Wash.

The mission delivered 24 bundles of supplies to Afghans in need. The supplies included winter survival gear, tools, school supplies, food and blankets. This relief adds to the more than 2.2 million pounds of humanitarian aid provided for the people of Afghanistan since October 2004.

“This mission definitely proves the flexibility of our airpower,” said Maj. Gabriel Greiss, chief of Air Mobility Division tactics at the CAOC. “By getting so much done so quickly, we are undoubtedly optimizing the use of our air assets to help as much as we can.”

According to White House reports, 6 million people in Afghanistan and 1.5 million Afghan refugees depend on international relief programs for survival.