7/26/2008 @ 0450

Some have asked about what it may be like landing in the desert with the sand sometimes being the texture of flour. What I love most about my job is that we can be called up at any time, given a grid coordinate, and have to fly to a FOB (Forward Operating Base) in the middle of nowhere for resupply. Just so happened to come along and find pictures for this mission so hope you enjoy. Always feel free to ask and I’ll try to explain as well as I can. The key things that go through a pilots mind before landing a 32,000-50,000 pound aircraft into a LZ (Landing Zone) are: 1.) Which way is the wind blowing to help in pushing the dust away from the aircraft upon touchdown 2.) Landing with forward airspeed - This helps again keep the dust cloud away from the cockpit windows and usually right at the cabin door behind the pilots until we hit the ground and start applying bakes 3.) Good Crew Coordination, we have three other crewmembers that have a lot of experience and are in charge of calling the aircraft to the ground and where the dust cloud is in comparison to the cockpit so that the pilot knows if he’s landing to slow or too fast. With all these things taken into account a successful landing to the ground can be assured of.