Posted on May 3, 2016

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

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I generally see the ramp used at USASFC for jumps, even if jumping from both sides. Conventional units tend to use the doors. I'm wondering what the benefits are?

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11B1V: Airborne Ranger C-130 Crew Chief

Posted 8 y ago

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Responses: 23

CPT (Join to see)

Edited 8 y ago

Posted 8 y ago

There are actually few reasons. I have jumped both ramp and doors. I did a Mass Tac last week. The only time you see a Ramp Blast is with small units such as a SF or LRS Team. When you are going with Mass Tacs you can get more out by using both doors. If you only have 10 seconds of green light you should be able to use both doors and put more than just using the ramp. I have never seen anyone use a Ramp for a Mass Tac. To me it would seem far to dangerous. The location of the JM and the Safety would be an issue. Plus could you imagine if a guy fell down on the ramp. It would create havoc. He has no where to go. While jumping doors you could just pull them to the side and let the rest jump. In addition to all of this I imagine that it would also create a lot more hazards too. Just a bit of turbulance you could lose the cargo handlers in the back.

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SGM Robert King

8 y

We rarely had a DZ that was the size of a small country. We jumped on postage stamps with lots of obstacles.

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1LT (Join to see)

8 y

82nd seems to dislike using the ramp. At the time I was there the ASOP said the TOW missile teams were supposed to jump from the ramp immediately after the truck dropped, but for unspecified "safety" reasons they just had the truck crew front loaded in the doors.

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SFC (Join to see)

8 y

LTC Yinon Weiss - Sir, the anchor cables has to be configured differently than it would be configured using doors. That is why the Assisstant Jumpmaster will watch the Jumpmaster and wait a second before tapping the jumper on the AJ side of the aircraft to exit.

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PFC Craig Karshner

>1 y

Loved jumping off ramps.

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SGM Erik Marquez

Edited 8 y ago

Posted 8 y ago

Higher rate of exit and MORE jumpers.. over the ramp is limited to 40, jump doors you get 64 in peacetime, 76 in combat. Thats is why you see the jump doors used in standard procedure.
Chasing heavy drops (our gun truck) and smaller size element (4 man crew per truck) we would jump ramp.
My small Infantry platoon in Alaska was the only one allowed to request and make ramp jumps the three years I was at Fort Richardson. When I was at Bragg, the only ramp jump I did was proficiency stuff jumping static line with special people (SF mostly) They would need 10 static line jumpers as part of the package that wold take them up to alt for free fall. ... So static line jumpers were many times found from the regular airborne community

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MAJ L. Nicholas Smith

8 y

Exactly what I was thinking. It's all about efficiency in order to place as many troopers on the ground in the smallest amount of time. I jumped the 130 many times but never from the ramp.

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CW4 Angel C.

8 y

yeah I did a couple tailgate jumps at Bragg but both with SOF units. Now (last time I checked) you need an exception to policy to jump outside Division. 82nd did do a UH60 proficiency jump back in 08/09 timeframe and it was a blast.

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SGM Erik Marquez

8 y

CW4 Angel C. - Chief
I have no doubt there's a standing policy both in ASOP and DIV policy letter stating just that. I'm sure back in 93 when I was there the same thing existed.
All I can say for sure is it wasn't enforced..lol My Jump log proves that.. Hmmm, wonder what the statutes of limitations is on prosecution for not following a Div Policy letter is.

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CW4 Angel C.

8 y

I think I did my jumps like 99/00 when I was an NCO outside of DIV. I tried jumping like 10 times in two months and all jumps kept getting scratched or birds broke then I was a pay hurt, so a friend that was doing a HALO hooked me up with a tail gate with his unit. Back in 93 I was a PFC/SPC and wouldn't even dare jumping outside of my unit LOL

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