36th AS flexes agility, conducts airdrop operations under limited visibility

Published Feb. 12, 2025
By Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --

As the sun set over the Yokota Air Base flightline, four C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron revved engines in preparation for a routine, yet convincing, demonstration of world-class agility, Feb. 6.

This night time sortie – also known as a night tac – would take aircrews over the Mount Fuji drop zone for the swift and synchronized delivery of container delivery system bundles and heavy equipment.

An airman directs a forklift. — U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Aleksander Lepekhin, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron combat mobility technician, directs a forklift to load dropped heavy equipment at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, Feb. 6, 2025. Multiple Airmen assigned to the 374th LRS were staged at the sortie drop zone to locate the container delivery system bundles and heavy equipment that were delivered by four C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexzandra Gracey)

An airman performs a pre-flight check inside a C-130J Super Hercules cockpit — U.S. Air Force Capt. Steven Gilliam, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, performs a pre-flight check before conducting a night sortie at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Feb. 6, 2025. The 36th AS’ rigorous training schedule includes drumbeat, scenario-based events, and exercise injections to ensure that pilots and loadmasters meet their training objectives and maintain peak proficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)

Airmen prepare to launch a container delivery system bundle from a C-130J Super Hercules. — U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ryan Gaskins, right, and Senior Airman Blake Janssen, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmasters, prepare to launch a container delivery system bundle from a C-130J Super Hercules near Yokota Air Base, Japan, Feb. 6, 2025. The 36th AS’ rigorous training schedule includes drumbeat, scenario-based events, and exercise injections to ensure that pilots and loadmasters meet their training objectives and maintain peak proficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)

“This particular one was a multi-element formation lead flight,” said Capt. Zachary Norton, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J pilot. “We also trained on airdrops, so we did visual low-levels over the Mount Fuji drop zone with heavy equipment and CDS bundles.”

Night tacs present unique challenges and provide pilots and loadmasters an opportunity to implement tactics and techniques under limited visibility. These missions rely on critical tools such as aircraft station-keeping equipment, avionics systems used to maintain formation flight in low-visibility or night operations. Aircrew also utilized night vision goggles during the flight.

“NVGs bring a whole different challenge because you lose depth perception when using them.” said Senior Airman Blake Janssen, 36th AS loadmaster. “We do this because in the event we have to conduct night operations, we’re just as proficient as we are at day operations.”

Airmen perform a pre-flight check — U.S. Air Force Capts. Zachary Norton and Steven Gilliam, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J pilots, perform a pre-flight check before conducting a night sortie at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Feb. 6, 2025. Night time sorties, or night tacs, present unique challenges and provide pilots and loadmasters an opportunity to implement tactics and techniques under limited visibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)

Such exercises are part of the squadron’s unwavering commitment to meet the demands of region-wide airlift support. Their rigorous training schedule includes drumbeat, scenario-based events, and exercise injections to ensure that pilots and loadmasters meet their training objectives and maintain peak proficiency.

“We aim for at least one student on all of our training flights so they can meet all of their requirements,” Janssen said.

The 36th Airlift Squadron champions synchronized logistics by continuously refining their capabilities, ensuring they remain capable of delivering rapid and precise airlift support across the Indo-Pacific.