Precision airdrop training coming to Altus AFB

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chris Powell
  • Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) --  A new training course will be soon implemented into the syllabus for all C-17 Globemaster III aircrew members attending technical training here.

Air Force officials are relocating the improved container delivery system and joint precision airdrop system training to Altus Air Force Base in the coming months, so pilots and loadmasters will be fully qualified to provide airdrop support as soon as they arrive at their first duty station.

"Doing this frees up training resources because the operational wings are extremely busy," said Capt. Erik Fisher, a C-17 instructor pilot. "By doing that training here, we're freeing up resources at operational units."

An important step for that implementation took place March 18 when a
C-17 instructor aircrew successfully performed an ICDS drop from 6,000 feet and the bundles landed within 40 yards of their intended targets.

"Today was the first time we dropped using ICDS and JPADS procedures, and it went outstanding," said Capt. Bryan Bailey, the precision airdrop officer on the mission. "It was a test to make sure the instructors are ready and that we have the appropriate aircraft equipment, ranges, airspace and maintenance.

"Now we're ready to start training the trainers, so that every student who comes through the airdrop courses will be trained in ICDS and JPADS procedures," Captain Bailey said.

The main reason for ensuring pilots and loadmasters are trained before they leave Altus AFB is because some Airmen don't receive the proper ICDS and JPADS training at their duty stations prior to deploying.

"When I deployed to (Southwest Asia), I flew with guys who had only been airdropping for 60 days, and that's not enough time to get them ICDS and JPADS qualified," said Captain Bailey. "We're going to make (trained) warfighters here before they go to their squadron."

JPADS uses global position system technology, steerable parachutes and on-board laptop computers to guide bundles to their desired locations, Captain Bailey said. Because of costs related to the guidance unit on the JPADS parachutes, trainees will use conventional parachutes.

"We'll use the JPADS in the airplane to come up with a better release point for where those parachutes go, so we'll get better accuracy than we could without the computer," he said. "ICDS gives us most of the accuracy that we can get with JPADS for a fraction of the cost."