[Scan-DC] Army Special Operations Command Schedule

[Keith Stein]

Army Special Operations Command Schedule

Army Special Operations Command will be conducting air operations at Fort 
Bragg, N.C., Shannon Airfield, Va., and Fort A.P. Hill, Va., in March, 
April, and May.

One Support Battalion Jump. A daytime personnel drop (60 people) from 1,500 
feet on St Mere Eglise Drop Zone. This training will be conducted from 
approximately 1300 to 1700 March 5.

One Combat Equipped Personnel Drop (400 people). Two Aircraft - A daytime 
personnel drop and possibly Halo Drops on MAAF Luzon Drop Zone. This 
training will be conducted from 1000 to 1600 March 13.

One tactical/proficiency airborne operation onto Sicily Drop Zone (50 
people). This training will be conducted from 1900 to 2100 March 18.

One SOCM/SFMS Proficiency Jump (175 people), static line parachute drop 
onto St Mere Eglise Drop Zone and one HALO lift of 10 personnel. No combat 
equipment. This training will be conducted from 1215 to 1700 March 19.

One Airborne Operation onto St Mere Eglise Drop Zone (54 people), 50 drops 
at 1,500 ft using multiple passes and a HALO pass of four people at 12,500 
feet. This training will be conducted from 1300 to 1700 April 3.

One static line parachute operation onto Luzon Drop Zone (60 people), 
multiple lifts of static line followed by one HALO pass. This training will 
be conducted from 0830 to 1200 April 9.

One administrative non-tactical static line and HALO jump onto Sicily Drop 
Zone for 90 static line and 10 HALO personnel. This training will be 
conducted from 0800 to 1200 May 2.

One tactical/proficiency airborne operation onto Sicily Drop Zone (50 
people). This training will be conducted from 1900 to 2100 May 7.

One static line parachute operation onto Luzon Drop Zone (60 people), 
multiple lifts of static line followed by one HALO pass. This training will 
be conducted from 0830 to 1200 May 14.

One SR FTX INFIL ABN Operation and Night static line combat equipment 
paradrop departing from Shannon Airfield, Va., dropping onto Bowling Green 
Drop Zone, Fort A.P. Hill, Va., conducting four lifts of fifteen pax on 
each lift. This training is scheduled to be conducted from 1800 to 2300 May 22.

One Cadre Train-up Air Operations Practical Exercise for 40 people, Day 
Time Bundle Drops (6), Landing Zone's, personnel drops and possibly HALO 
Drops. This training is scheduled to be conducted from 0900 to 1500 April 2.

One Cadre Train-up Air Operations Practical Exercise for 40 people, Night 
Time Bundle Drops (6), Landing Zone's, personnel drops and possibly HALO 
Drops. This training is scheduled to be conducted from 1800 to 2400 on April 2.

Two Air Operations Practical Exercise for 200 people, Day Time Bundle Drops 
(21), Landing Zone's, personnel drops and possibly HALO Drops on both Luzon 
and Oran Drop Zones. This training is scheduled to be conducted from 0900 
to 1700 April 15 and 16.

Two Air Operations Practical Exercise for 200 people, Night Time Bundle 
Drops (21), Landing Zones, personnel drops on Luzon. This training is 
scheduled to be conducted from 2000 to 0200 on April 15, 16, and 17.

One UW PE INFIL, a night tactical static line Airborne, Combat Equipped 
Personnel Infiltration (rucksacks, weapons and door bundles) of 252 people 
utilizing two aircraft, the jumps will be onto Rhine Luzon and Oran Drop 
Zones. This training is scheduled to be conducted from 1800 to 0300 April 
24 and 25.

Two RS Resupply. A night resupply operation. A/C will be utilized for seven 
Night Bundle drops for resupply at various locations. Landing Zone 
operations and personnel Airborne Drops may also be conducted. This 
training is scheduled to be conducted from 1800 to 2400 May 8 and 9.

Two Night Landing Zones. A/C will be utilized for multiple night Landing 
Zones around Candor Area (Star Airport). Resupply Bundle and personnel 
drops may also be conducted. This training is scheduled to be conducted 
from 1900 to 2300 May 12.

COMBAT EQUIPPED JUMPER. An aircraft passenger rigged with a main parachute, 
reserve parachute, weapon, and ALICE pack (back-pack) to parachute from an 
aircraft. The planning weight for a combat equipped jumper is as follows: 
Weight of average jumper = 180 lbs., Weight of parachute with reserve = 40 
lbs., Weight of ALICE pack and weapon = 80 lbs. Total Average Planning 
Weight per Combat Equipped Jumper = 300 lbs.

PARADROP EQUIPMENT BUNDLE. These bundles are composed of equipment packed 
into a canvas container. The maximum container dimensions are 30"x 66"x 
48". The bundle is dropped using a static line deployed parachute. Bundles 
are rigged in such a manner that when placed on the balance point of the 
jump platform, the parachute is on the top of the bundle or on the side of 
the bundle facing the center of the aircraft, based on the largest 
dimension. The maximum weight of the bundle is 500 lbs.

MISSION PROFILES AND DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS - SPECIFIC TASKS;

Air Operations Practical Exercise - For this operation, the pilot shall 
perform para-drops of equipment bundles and personnel (both day and night), 
and landing zone operations on field landing strips (both day and night) 
that have been marked for landing with infrared lights, railroad fuses, 
beanbag lights, or other expedient marking methods. During the conduct of 
these operations, the pilot shall utilize aircraft landing light(s). The 
pilot shall ensure that the aircraft have the capability to talk with the 
ground party running the operation via VHF and/or UHF frequencies. The 
aircraft shall be configured to allow a military static line airborne exit 
of the aircraft whether through a side door or ramp with a linear anchor 
line cable that runs the length of the aircraft so as to support 20 combat 
equipped jumpers.

Practice Airborne Infiltration Operations. For this operation, the aircraft 
shall have a minimum of 15 seats installed (side fold-up seats) and with an 
allowable cabin load capable of transporting 15 combat equipped jumpers 
with two non-combat equipped personnel. There will be between 150-200 total 
jumpers. The aircraft shall be configured to allow military static line 
airborne exit of the aircraft whether through a side door or ramp with a 
linear anchor line cable that runs the length of the aircraft so as to 
support 20 combat equipped jumpers. This operation is normally conducted 
during nighttime. Pilots flying this operation shall brief the flight 
routes to personnel that will be jumping. The pilot shall ensure that the 
aircraft shall have the capability to talk with the ground party running 
the operation via VHF and/or UHF frequencies.

Robin Sage Airborne Infiltration Operations. For this operation, every 
effort will be made to utilize military aircraft; however, in the event 
that military aircraft are not available, the contractor shall provide an 
aircraft that is capable of supporting the Robin Sage Airborne Infiltration 
requirements. For this operation, the aircraft shall have a minimum of 15 
seats installed (side fold-up seats) and with an allowable cabin load 
capable of transporting 15 combat equipped jumpers with two non-combat 
equipped personnel. The pilot shall ensure that the aircraft shall have the 
capability to talk with the ground party running the operation via VHF 
and/or UHF frequencies. The aircraft shall be configured to allow military 
static line airborne exit of the aircraft whether through a side door or 
ramp. The aircraft shall be able to complete two 1,500' above ground level 
lifts before having to refuel. This operation is normally conducted during 
nighttime. The estimated time that is required to complete this operation 
is six hours. The pilots that fly this operation shall brief the flight 
routes to personnel that will be jumping.

Robin Sage Re-supply Bundle Drop. For this operation, the aircraft shall be 
required to perform static line para-drops of equipment bundles onto drop 
zones from an altitude of 500 feet above ground level. This operation is 
conducted up to two consecutive nights. Two military personnel will spot 
the drop zones and push the bundles out of the aircraft. The drop zones 
will be marked with a standard NATO L. On each of the nights, the aircraft 
shall be capable of dropping six to 10 bundles with two lifts. The 
estimated time that is required to complete this operation for each night 
is four hours. The bundles will not exceed 400 lbs. Door size shall be 60 
inches wide minimum.

Robin Sage Landing Zone Operations. For this operation, the aircraft shall 
perform the same landing zone (LZ) as outlined above. The operation will 
consist of a mixture of LZ operations that will total approximately twelve 
separate missions. The LZ portion of this mission will require the aircraft 
to land at various small field landing strips, which will often be during 
the night. The LZ portion of this operation will also require passenger 
transport of personnel not to exceed six individuals. The aircraft shall 
also be required to have the capability to talk with the ground party 
running the operation via VHF and/or UHF frequencies. The estimated time 
that is required to complete this operation is seven hours.

Cadre Train up. For this operation, the aircraft shall be required to 
perform para-drops of equipment bundles and personnel (both static line and 
HALO) (both day and night), and landing zone operations on field landing 
strips (both day and night) that have been marked for landing with infrared 
lights, railroad fuses, beanbag lights, or other expedient marking methods. 
During the conduct of these operations, the aircraft will utilize aircraft 
landing light(s). The aircraft shall also be required to have the 
capability to talk with the ground party running the operation via VHF 
and/or UHF frequencies.

Keith Stein
kstein@erols.com
Leesburg, VA