Airmen from the Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa Air Base, Hungary, and Ramstein AB will participate in for aerial port training Jan. 10 through 13 near here and Grafonvier, Germany. The Airmen will conduct two personnel airdrop flights and two heavy equipment airdrops, which will mark the first time HAW Airmen have participated in a heavy equipment drop. (File photo)
by Senior Airman Scott Saldukas
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
1/11/2011 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- Airmen from the Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa Air Base, Hungary, and Ramstein AB will participate in for aerial port training Jan. 10 through 13 near here and Grafonvier, Germany.
The Airmen will conduct two personnel airdrop flights and two heavy equipment airdrops, which will mark the first time HAW Airmen have participated in a heavy equipment drop.
"It will be our first heavy equipment drop, and I am very proud to be part of this organization and contribute my expertise to the mission," said Maj. Brian Nicosia, the HAW chief of wing weapon and tactics flight. "I am very excited to see this portion of our mission grow."
While the HAW's mission capabilities have expanded since the wing activated in 2008, the Airmen have developed strong partnerships in a short time by doing training missions with Ramstein AB Airmen.
"The HAW does not currently do a lot of training with (Ramstein Air Base), but we definitely hope to in the future," said Maj. Daniel Lang, the HAW director of operations. "The airdrop resources available at Ramstein (Air Base) are invaluable for two reasons, they bridge a gap in aerial port and aerial delivery capability we have here as we start operations in Hungary by providing equipment and personnel that do not exist at Papa Air Base."
Major Lang also noted how Ramstein AB Airmen advise HAW Airmen on how to coordinate logistical support and project combat and humanitarian airdrops.
"The 86th Operations Support Squadron aerial port and aerial delivery, along with the joint airdrop inspection team, are the best in the world at what they do and are a perfect role model for our unit as we build airdrop capability," he said.
While building relationships during training missions is important, working with different bases has different areas of unique capabilities, Major Nicosia said.
"While we don't have all our equipment and processes in place right now, we will be able to share those with Ramstein (Air Base) when they come on line," he said. "Also, we hope to host some (C-130 Hercules) from Ramstein (Air Base) this summer so they can conduct night-tactical missions they would not be able to do at home station."
Training missions like these are also important for international C-17 Globemaster III aircrews to maintain their airdrop proficiency so they can continue to provide the 12-nation strategic airlift capability.
"This is a continuation of a great airdrop relationship forming between the HAW and Ramstein (Air Base)," Major Lang said. "I believe I am at a historic start of a very important relationship between the two bases."
