1. Operation Central Accord 2016 U.S. Army Aviation Personnel 1.Battalion level / standardization pilot CW4 Madigan 2.Battalion level / maintenance officer CW3 Gannon 3.Company Level/ aviation mission survivability officer CW2 MacSwain 4.Company Level / flight instructor SGT Chabior 5.Company Level / aviation mission survivability officer CW3 Anderson 6.Company Level / safety officer CW2 Norton 7.Brigade / instructor pilot - OIC MAJ Lonchiadis 8.Brigade / maintenance officer MAJ Paulette 9.Fixed Wing / aviation mission survivability officer CW4 Cummings 10.JFHQ / Translator (French & Portuguese)

2. Operation Central Accord 2016 Academic training overview Aerial delivery of supplies Casualty evacuation Medical evacuation Air movement of soldiers

3. Aerial delivery of supplies - defined Aerial sustainment is the movement of equipment, material, supplies, and personnel by utility, cargo, and fixed-wing assets for operations other than air assault and direct combat support. These air movements are considered combat service support missions because the aviation forces are not task organized with combined arms forces, nor do they move combat forces or assets whose primary mission is to engage and destroy enemy forces. Missions include intratheater airlift; administrative relocation of troops and nonmilitary personnel; and administrative relocation of equipment, material, and supplies.

4. Aerial delivery of supplies Aerial delivery is increasingly employed as a routine distribution method. When applied together with surface distribution operations, aerial delivery enables maneuver forces to engage in a battle rhythm that is not as restricted by geography, supply routes, tactical situations or operational pauses for logistic support. There are two methods of aerial delivery: Airland delivery & Airdrop delivery

5. “ Airland delivery ” - is moved by air and unloaded after the aircraft has landed or while an aircraft is hovering. Airland is the preferred method of aerial delivery because it is the most efficient and cost effective. It permits delivery of larger loads with less risk of cargo loss or damage than airdrop or sling-load methods. Although crews normally accomplish offloading from a stationary aircraft with engines shut down, procedures exist to load and offload with engines running when necessary to reduce ground time. In a higher threat environment, or when sufficient materials handling equipment (MHE) is not available, procedures exist to combat offload from a moving aircraft. This delivery method can be conducted at well established airbases or may involve tactical deliveries to unimproved, dirt strip assault landing zones.

6. Airland delivery planning considerations The tactical situation The expected conventional and nonconventional threat throughout the mission. The location of countries granting over flight rights and any conditions placed upon them. The duration and location of the operation. The location, landing clearances to, and capabilities of suitable airfields, bases, and camps. Airspace considerations, to include the ability to control airspace in the absence of air traffic control facilities. The type and amount of cargo or personnel for delivery. The desired phasing of forces into the operation. The weather conditions. Night operation and night vision device requirements.

7. Airland delivery planning considerations continued The mission requirements Airlift assets available, including the number and type of aircraft and crews. Protection of aircraft. Aircrew survival measures, including escape and evasion points, routes, corridors, and safe haven locations. Aircraft servicing, maintenance, and damage repair capabilities. Airfield capabilities, including pavement strength and clearance requirements. Airfield load and offload capabilities. Transportation capabilities to distribute cargo or personnel to the final destination.

8. Airland delivery aircraft considerations Fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft can perform airland missions. However, fixed wing aircraft are more commonly utilized to deliver cargo due to their ability to fly longer ranges carrying heavier loads faster and at higher altitudes than rotary-wing aircraft.

9. Airland delivery aircraft landing zone considerations Desirable characteristics of LZs are ease of identification from the air; a straight, unobstructed, secure approach for aircraft; and close proximity to ground objectives and units. LZs to be developed into more sophisticated facilities should possess the following additional characteristics: An area of sufficient size and trafficability to accommodate the number and type of aircraft to be landed. Parking and dispersal areas to accommodate the planned capacity of the facility. Road networks to handle ground vehicular traffic. Minimum construction and maintenance requirements. Areas and facilities for air terminal operations. Facilities for holding patients awaiting evacuation. Facilities to support crash and rescue vehicles and equipment.

10. ADVANTAGES OF AIRLAND DELIVERY Allows equipment that is not air-droppable, such as tanks, some artillery, and rotary-wing aircraft, to be brought rapidly in-theater. Allows a greater degree of tactical integrity and the capability to rapidly employ units after landing. Exposes deploying personnel and equipment to less risk of injury or damage. Permits the maximum utilization of aircraft loads by eliminating the volume and weight of preparing loads for airdrop deliveries. Allows aircraft to be used for backhaul or evacuation of personnel. Has a low cost per ton of cargo moved ratio.

11. DISADVANTAGES OF AIRLAND DELIVERY Requires moderately level, unobstructed LZs. Requires more time for delivery of a given size force than when delivery is by airdrop, especially for a small, restricted LZ. Requires more support personnel. Exposes aircraft to prolonged air and ground attack because of the extended time on the ground at forward airfields. Requires more engineer assets to maintain the airfield based on the physical composition of the LZ and weight of the cargo aircraft. Requires specialty trained personnel to supervise, prepare and certify supply loads. Cargo aircraft with heavy loads have limited range and might require refueling at the LZ.

12. “Airdrop delivery” - Airdrop systems have a mix of delivery capabilities to support operations ranging from conventional parachutes to platforms that can be dropped at low altitude, to high altitude precision systems with substantial stand-off capabilities. Weather conditions, mission requirements, threat environment, and equipment to be delivered determine the equipment and type of aircraft used for the delivery.

13. Airdrop delivery planning considerations Preplanned This is a programmed event. Aircraft are allocated or projected in advance within the operational lead-time established by the component commander. This lead-time varies depending on the scale of the request, available forces, and the theater air planning process. The per-unit allocation will normally be expressed in terms of sorties per day per unit, and will be determined based on priorities set by projected unit requirements, and available aircraft.

14. Airdrop delivery planning considerations Immediate and Emergency Immediate airdrop requests stem from unanticipated, urgent, or priority requirements. These requirements are critical for a unit to survive or complete its tactical mission. Requests for immediate airdrop are passed through Army operational channels and at the same time through USAF channels. This allows a faster reaction.

15. Types of Airdrop delivery Free drop - the delivery of certain non-fragile items and equipment from a slow-flying aircraft at low altitude, without the use of parachutes. High Velocity - used when the threat dictates the delivery aircraft to remain at high altitude. Parachute delivery with a high rate of decent minimizes drift of the load during it’s delivery. Low Velocity - this is the preferred method, used when threat level permits. Parachute delivery using multiple chutes to attain the desired rate of descent.

16. Advantages of Airdrop delivery Can be used when no other means for transportation is available Reduces the need for forward airfields and landing zones Reduces time of re-supply from the source to the supported unit Shorter mission time for the supply aircraft and reduces the risk to the aircraft and flight crew, increasing aircraft availability and survivability.

17. Disadvantages of Airdrop delivery Aircraft remains vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire Requires specialized aircrew and training Drop zones must be secured to prevent the supplies from falling into enemy hands Dependent on favorable winds during the drop Requires more extensive planning

18. Medical evacuation - defined Medical evacuation is performed by dedicated, standardized medical evacuation platforms, with medical professionals who provide the timely, efficient movement and en-route care of the wounded, injured, or ill persons from the battlefield and/or other locations to military treatment facilities. The provision of en-route care on medically equipped vehicles or aircraft greatly enhances the patient’s potential for recovery and may reduce long-term disability by maintaining the patient’s medical condition in a more stable manner.

19. Medical evacuation categories Priority I – URGENT - Evacuation as soon as possible within 2 hours to save life, limb, eyesight; prevent complications of serious illness; or avoid permanent disability. Priority IA - URGENT SURGICAL - Requiring far-forward stabilizing surgical intervention prior to further disability. Priority II – PRIORITY - Sick and wounded requiring prompt medical care within 4 hours otherwise patient will become an URGENT or suffer unnecessarily. Priority III – ROUTINE - Sick and wounded requiring evacuation but whose condition is not expected to deteriorate within the next 24 hours. Priority IV – CONVENIENCE - Patient movement is convenient but not necessary.

20. Medical evacuation aircraft configuration The interior design of the aircraft should have sufficient cabin space and place sophisticated, life-saving instruments and equipment at the fingertips of the medical attendants. Ideal cabin configurations can accommodate up to four primary litter patients or six ambulatory (seated) patients. The platform design should also include oxygen distribution and suction systems, an airway management capability, and provisions for stowing intravenous solutions.

21. Casualty evacuation - defined Differentiated from aeromedical evacuations, aerial CASEVAC is the transport of injured personnel with the use of Army Aviation assets that do not have onboard medical personnel or equipment. Aerial CASEVAC is used in extreme emergencies, when the medical evacuation system is overwhelmed or unavailable or as the situation dictates. Aerial CASEVAC provides the ground maneuver commander with a quick response evacuation, but assumes greater risk due to the lack of medical personnel or equipment on board the CASEVAC platform.

22. Casualty evacuation continued Casualties will be evacuated by MEDEVAC resources if assets are available. If available MEDEVAC resources are overwhelmed (such as in a mass casualty situation), some casualties may be transported on nonmedical vehicles. This is referred to as casualty evacuation (CASEVAC). CASEVAC should only be used when the number of casualties exceeds the capability of the MEDEVAC assets or when the urgency of evacuation exceeds the risk of waiting for MEDEVAC assets to arrive.

23. Casualty evacuation classifications Dedicated. Dedicated crews are identified and reserved for the CASEVAC mission exclusively. This tasking may be for a period of hours or months. Similar to a MEDEVAC crew, they will not be called on to perform another mission. This is the highest level of classification for CASEVAC. Designated. Designated crews are tasked to perform the CASEVAC mission on request. These crews may have a variety of priorities, CASEVAC not necessarily being the highest. Lift of opportunity. Crews performing a CASEVAC lift of opportunity have no specific prior designation as a CASEVAC platform. This does not indicate a lack of CASEVAC planning, but does not ensure CASEVAC resources will be available at any given time.

24. Casualty evacuation considerations In any configuration, it is highly desirable to have aeromedically trained personnel onboard to administer treatment. Without this capability, further harm may come to the patient(s). Therefore, when executing CASEVAC, it is advisable that the least injured are evacuated using CASEVAC assets and most injured using MEDEVAC assets. Any available medical personnel at the pickup site can assist in determining priority for evacuation by available medical vehicles and aircraft. Aeromedical care is a specialized task. Medical personnel not trained in this particular area of medicine may cause further harm to the patient. If possible, prior training/orientation should be coordinated when serving in the CASEVAC role.

25. Air movement - defined Air movement operations are conducted to reposition units, personnel, supplies, equipment, and other critical combat elements in support of current and/or future operations. As these operations are usually aviation-pure missions, the aviation unit commander is usually the most qualified to produce the greatest efficiency of movement.

26. Air movement internal loads Internal load operations are conducted by rotary-wing and fixed wing aircraft. Large scale air movement operations require detailed planning and mission command. Most air movements are smaller and highly decentralized requiring as few as two rotary-wing or one FW aircraft but can be executed with formations as large as a battalion.

27. Air movement external loads Typical external loads include bulk supplies, fuel or water blivets, vehicles, trailers, material handling equipment, towed artillery and other weapons systems, and bridging equipment. The supported unit is responsible for preparing, weighing and rigging external loads. They must avoid overloading vehicles, trailers, pallets and other containers beyond maximum weights that have been coordinated with the aviation unit. If the aircraft is unable to lift the load or transport it the required distance, the supported unit must reduce the weight by removing items. The aviation unit is the final determination of the load’s worthiness to fly and determines in advance what portion of the load to carry internally or externally.

28. Air movement planning Air movement requires pre-coordination between the operations cells of aviation units and the units supported maximizing troop and equipment movements and the efficient use of the air assets dedicated to mission support. Air movements must be planned to maximize the capability and employment duration of the aviation unit. These operations are especially effective in moving forces and equipment when— Ground routes are limited, damaged, or nonexistent. Threat activities or obstacles restrict ground movement. The supported unit does not have available vehicles. Time is critical. Landing Zones are the appropriate size with proper security to safely execute the operation.