What are the benefits of using the doors for a jump in a C-130 over the ramp?

My reason, so I can follow the pack tray in front of me and psychologically pretend that I'm not jumping from the sky.

If you use the ramp, no slamming on the side of the plane if you get hung up.

I was an airdrop qualified pilot and instructor pilot for over 10 years. From the cockpit point of view there is little difference. The airplane handles about the same with the paratroop doors or ramp and door open. I know a paratroop door exit can sometimes cause the trooper to be buffeted around quite a bitt. Especially in turbulent air conditions. BTW when flying the aircraft, you can actually feel each trooper leave the jump platform during a personnel drop.

From the loadmaster's perspective, which I understand incidentally at best, a static line personnel drop traditionally goes out the paratroop doors because that's the way troopers left aircraft like the C47 during WWII. However, the static line retriever works for a door or ramp airdrop. For high altitude non-static line airdrops, I understand the troopers like to ramp better, especially if they are carrying an extra equipment load. I don't think it matters all that much to the Loadmaster. Ramp may be a little easier because the paratroop doors are manually operated, but the ramp and door are hydraulic--the Loadmaster only has to activate a switch or we could open it from the cockpit.

Ramp is better if jumping with large equipment, also if you're jumping as a unit. Airborne use the door, just as good if you're going out 1 stick at a time

C130 ramp jump is great. Only thing I had better was a CH 47 ramp jump.

Doors you can put two at a time out, while you can only do one at a time off the ramp. I prefer the ramp, as there is less twisting and it's less chance of collision, but it also presents a risk of hitting and potentially tangling with other jumpers D-bags if you exit the ramp wrong.

Just for more knowledge, when USASOC conducts a Jumpmaster Course, PWAC is still conducted on the doors. If a C-130 is not available, they will conduct the door check on the CASA-212. When it comes to conventional units like the 82nd Or 173rd, they conduct door so that they can get all that is on the aircraft on the first pass. They are the "force multipliers" To seize an airfield. That is the benefit for using the doors... getting all combat loaded Paratroopers on the ground. When you conduct ramp operations, the anchor line is configured differently thus the number of Paratroopers would be half. Many USASOC units use the ramp to stay proficient, but with the transition from the CASA 212 to the C-27J, they are using both ramp and door to conduct static line proficiency jumps. Sorry to go on a rant but essentially the ramp is beneficial for keeping current on your jump status while the door is beneficial when conducting Mass Tactical Airfield Seizures in times that the Global Reaponse Force is needed.

control of the flow of jumpers

More jumpers faster and safer... the ramp is limited to 40... More thru the doors... 60-70...

You can exit more paratroopers when you jump from the side doors as opposed to the ramp. You can jump two doors and get more out at one time. With the ramp you only have one anchor-line cable which only allows half the number of people to jump.

Being as far removed from jump anything as Taylor Swift, I presume JATO packs are not an obstruction problem? Hard to think of a scenario where you'd have a jump load out that would require them.

It's been many moons, but I think doors maximize safety and getting max troops out -- I've never jumped more than one anchor line cable off a ramp (3rd SFG) and we took the whole ramp to avoid the d-bags. With doors (82nd), all cables are in play and d-bags are not as big an issue.

LTC Yinon Weiss more jumpers faster. Personally I like it as I do not see where I am going til the last bit and by then I am out the door.