Keep 'em flyin'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Yolanda Addison
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  The 403rd Wing consists of numerous squadrons that provide hard work and dedication to support the wing's mission. One such unit is the 41st Aerial Port Squadron, commanded by Lt. Col. Mike Grubb.

The duties that fall within the 41st APS are very much like what you would find in an airport. They process personnel and cargo, load equipment and conduct equipment inspections. However, that's where the similarities end, because that's not all they do.

The 815th and 345th Airlift Squadrons' missions depend largely on the expertise of a core group of 41st APS Airmen called "riggers," who prepare equipment parachutes for aerial delivery. The riggers help these squadrons maintain aircrew qualifications, which include day and night aerial delivery and combat offloads.

The riggers prepare cargo parachutes to support the flying squadrons' twice-weekly missions. These parachutes are attached to training loads called "heavys" and Container Delivery Systems. The 3,000-pound heavys are used to simulate food, ammo and large supplies, while a CDS consists of barrels containing liquid used to simulate loads smaller than heavys.

The riggers prepare three different types of parachutes. One parachute holds up to 3,000 pounds and is used for heavy loads, the second is a high velocity parachute that drops fast, while the third extracts the load from the plane.

The ability to support the tactical flying missions is unusual in that these capabilities are not a traditional part of the 41st APS missions, according to Colonel Grubb. This created a need for the rigger and the aerial delivery section, which is supported by man-day volunteers who work outside their traditional Reserve schedule.

"Without the 41st [APS] aerial delivery section, it would be virtually impossible for a tactical airlift squadron to be mission ready," said Senior Master Sgt. Troy Peltier, 815th AS chief loadmaster.

"The Aerial Delivery section is integral to the success of the wing," said Colonel Grubb. "If these folks didn't come in to rig parachutes, the number of air drops that the 815th and 345th AS could do would be significantly reduced."

The 815th and 345th AS missions are also beneficial to 41st APS, he said. Not only does this ensure that pilots and loadmasters maintain currency, but it gives them training on loading and unloading aircraft and ramp training too.

After all, it takes approximately 12 man-hours to get a "heavy" or CDS prepared for the mission and only seconds for it be over.