CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
When construction of the new addition and interior renovations to Building 174 is completed later this year, Charleston AFB anticipates seeing significant improvements in its ability to support airdrop training and certification.
Building 174 is an aerial delivery facility used to build up cargo platforms of various weights and sizes simulating real-world operational airdrop configurations. The platforms are then fitted with parachutes and loaded into C-17s for training missions.
Following each airdrop training mission, the platforms are retrieved, delivered back to Building 174 and re-rigged for future training missions. Due to the current configuration of the facility, processing of both inbound and outbound cargo platforms has to occur in the same limited work area.
This project will construct a 4,200 square foot inbound cargo processing canopy and renovates the existing interior work space, creating an efficient assembly line process through the facility.
An overhead crane is being provided underneath the canopy to assist in offloading inbound platforms and a 1,400-square foot room is being added to support parachute repair work.
Finally, three new elevated roller aisles are being added to the rigging and outbound processing areas to provide the ability to prepare multiple load configurations ahead of time, and then mix and match cargo platforms to each training load request received by the aerial delivery facility.