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Show D October 25. 2001 rations Dropping for Humanitarian mission outweighs risks 9tf C-- 17 aircrews -- cardboard llvsenually. the system is nothing more than heavy-dut- y boxes and straps designed specifically to handle the pressure of a drop. the 42 boxes, each w ith 410 like all the others On this plane humanitarian daily rations, are tethered inside the cavernous cargo hold. "I didn't know how big of a deal this really was until I saw all the news crews out there," he said, referring to the press conference held alter the first mission Oct 9. happy I was chosen to do this. I have a wife and daughter back home, and they see what we're doing on the new s. My w ife said she's proud of me." Although the long flight to and from the drop zone may seem ordinary, for a short time, it is anything but, Aircrew members agree that probably the most dangerous part of the mission is physiological. For more than two hours during the mission, aircrew members work in a depressurized plane, breathing through oxygen masks. About two hours before the drop, everyone on board dons an oxygen mask and starts taking in pure oxygen to decrease the amount of this helps prevent nitrogen in their bodies. Called decompression sickness later. "These missions are physically challenging," said. Josh, a 7 co- by Master Sgt. Kenneth Fidler U S. Air Forces m Europe PubUc Affairs .Ml high-altitu- de Rod lights dim OH RAMON I MX RING IKHJXA1 (AITN even turtlur in tin: v al'in. nuuking (he tiiul ctHintdown to drop time. Jomhi. a (II.heiiUNtcr III loadiuustcr wearing an oxygen ma.sk. helmet and a harness tciliered t ihe flir. anxiously nicks from side to C-1- 7 I'm side. The caig'i Joors vawn open, bringing biusts of freezing air into the dejressuned cargo hay. The plane tills up at about a angle as the boxes, each weighing about I .(MO pounds, strain against their C-1- 7 tie-do- straps blink on: 10 JasHi and his paitner. Mike, see ihe orange ready-lig...9 ...8 ... 7 .... Jell, the pilot, punches the button that releases the straps restraining the 42 boxes ot humanitarian daily rations. Gravity takes over, and the boxes roll out like a freight train, breaking apart immediately and area in northern Afghanistan. spilling the rations over a I One by one. thiee other safely drop their cargo, and all head the crew s to rest for a couple of days, the planes to gas up and home load up lor the next set of drops that could take place hours later. The drop Uxk eight seconds, the rush of Hying with the cargo doors open lasted only a lew minutes, but the tlight itself went on for hours. This marked the I 'll) successful mission of the U.S. military's delivery of humanitarian daily rations to Afghanistan, part of President million aid package to the Afghanistan people. Bush's additional aircraft Since Oct. 9. about 7(M).(MM) meals have been delivered by 7 from the 4.V7th Airlift Wing at Charleston AI U, S C. On his fourth llight since his unit deployed to Ramstein Air Base, Ciemiany, Mike is visibly proud of his role in the operation. "At first. I didn't know what to expect." he said, pointing toward the cardboard boxes lined up in two long columns. "This refrigerator-sie- d is the first tunc I've tlown depressuried operational llights. But on mv first llight. it was a good feeling watching the boxes take off." The Delivery System "works like a charm,' Mike said. "The boxes arc holding up well and they roll out perfectly." ht C-1- C-1- pilot. 'The worst could be that you get (the oxygen supply) disconnected and don't know it. You could get decompression sickness and die from nitrogen bubbles in your blood. Plus it's just uncomfortable having the mask up to your face for two hours." About an hour before the drop, the pilot depressurizes the aircraft Two physiological technicians fly each mission specifically to constantly check the crewTnembers for signs of hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, which can occur within a minute at this high altitude. "You could be so engrossed in doing your job that you would never know if you lost oxygen supply," said Ismael, a physiological technician deployed from the United States. "Probably the most dangerous part of this mission is simply the lack of oxygen." Flying high over Afghanistan, cargo doors open, below freezing air whips around inside, and the plane could take fire from the ground it all can be a bit unsettling. But that is not w hat Jason was thinking about. He w as getting ready C-1- high-altitud- e, Tri-Wa- ll e f l (I IX . it mw Photo by Master Sgt Kenneth Fidler Globemastor III loadmaster, unties restraining cords In preparation for a Monday airdrop of 42 containers of humanitarian dally rations over northern Afghanistan. This was the 13th mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom since the airdrops began Oct 9. Mike, a C-- for the rush of cargo moving out He was making sure his harness and oxygen lines did not get sucked out over the open ramp, and worrying about the straps catching. If they caught and the back-u- p release malfunctions, he has only seconds to grab the knife and cut it tie-do- free. The boxes roll out breaking apart just as they drop off the cargo floor. Within seconds, it is over. The rations spill out into the cold air and flutter to the earth below. Mike closes the cargo doors and the pilot pressurizes the aircraft "It was an excellent drop, as always. It was a rush to do that stuff," Jason said. 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