Data obtained in the exercise showed that the technology is efficient and safe
Air Force Agency: 1st/1st GT, by Captain Peres
The First Squadron of the First Transport Group (1º/1º GT) – Gordo Squadron, in collaboration with the First Troop Transport Group (1º GTT) – Zeus Fleet, and the Special Operations Command (COpEsp) of the Brazilian Army (EB), concluded, between November 26 and 30, a training exercise to operationally validate the use of the Continuous Computed Drop Point (CCDP) of the Flight Management System (FMS) of the KC-390 Millennium aircraft.
The CCDP is an algorithm integral to the aircraft’s military FMS that estimates the trajectories of the personal load during all phases of the airdrop, using a computer model instead of pre-calculated tables to increase the accuracy of the airdrop. The mission computer takes into account the data entered by the loadmaster, as well as the aircraft’s navigation data (inertial, GPS and anemometric) to make this estimate and indicate the optimum launch point for the crew. The exercise was carried out at the Launch Zone in the city of Goiânia (GO), expanding the use of the CCDP for the electronic launch of personnel.
According to the Head of the Flight Safety Section of Fleet Gordo, Captain Felipe Macedo da Cruz, the use of CCDP in the launch of personnel on the KC-390 Millennium is a notable advance. “This algorithm offers efficiency and, more crucially, an additional layer of safety for the military personnel taking part in the launches. Automation based on CCDP’s precise calculations reduces operational risks, is validated by comparative analysis and reinforces the commitment to the safety and efficiency of air operations,” he explained.
During the training, simulated launches of bales were carried out, representing the weight of military personnel, using conventional methods and the electronic launch, which underwent a meticulous comparative analysis with already consolidated manual launch data.
The efficiency and safety of the electronic launch was confirmed by a detailed evaluation of the results. The data obtained during the exercise demonstrated that the technology is efficient and safe, consolidating its application in the KC-390 for launching personnel.
The exercise also updated the doctrine in the units operating the KC-390 Millennium and the Brazilian Army (EB) units responsible for launching paratroopers. In addition, it ratified the electronic launch of personnel as an integral part of operations, marking a significant advance in the Brazilian Air Force’s (FAB) operational capacity with the KC-390 aircraft.
Photos: Captain Peres / 1st/1st GT *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***