Australia takes part in Operation Christmas Drop

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) today deployed a C-130J Hercules and crew to Guam for Operation Christmas Drop 2017.

Running from 7–15 December, Operation Christmas Drop is the world’s longest running humanitarian airdrop exercise, providing aid to remote communities across the West Pacific each year.

Commander Air Mobility Group, Air Commodore Richard Lennon, said Hercules transport aircraft would airdrop donated items, including construction materials, fishing nets, rice, soccer balls, and school supplies.

“Operation Christmas Drop provides support to more than 20,000 people in remote communities spread over six million square kilometres across the West Pacific, including, the Northern Marianas Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau.”

“The crews participating in the drop have to plan and execute missions under challenging circumstances and deliver to an unfamiliar drop zones.

“Each container we deliver can weigh up to 200 kilograms, and must be delivered with precision so that it can be safely recovered by these communities.

“Many of these communities have little physical contact with the outside world, and airdrop is an excellent means of delivering supplies when there’s no other quick alternative, either due to the distances involved or lack of available infrastructure.” Air Commodore Lennon said.

The United States Air Force first conducted Operation Christmas Drop in 1952, making an impromptu delivery of items carried on board a WB-29 weather reconnaissance aircraft to the atoll of Kapingamarangi.

This year marks the third consecutive occasion that the Australian Defence Force has sent a C-130J Hercules and crew to participate, working alongside counterparts from the United States and Japan.

Media Note:

Imagery of Operation Christmas Drop will be available from http://images.defence.gov.au/christmas+drop.

Vision will be available through the Parliamentary Network once the operation has concluded.

Information about the Hercules is available from http://www.airforce.gov.au/hercules/