Grissom Airmen use math to keep mission flying

by Staff Sgt. Ben Mota
434th ARW Public Affairs

12/10/2014 - GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- High-school algebra, a course many have thought useless for day-to-day activities, is being used to keep Grissom's mission in the air.

Airmen from the 434th Air Refueling Wing completed a pallet build-up course that uses such math to properly load cargo onto an aircraft at Grissom Nov. 2.

"Pallet building combines several basic skills such as high-school algebra and geometry to safely and efficiently load cargo onto aircraft," said Brian Wright, 434th ARW contracted combat readiness resource specialist. "Without the training, cargo could be loaded improperly and lead to damaged equipment or even worse, an injury."

From the beginning of the course, fundamentals of balance and geometry are introduced to allow pallets to be loaded efficiently, said Wright.

"The math ensures that the cargo is loaded in a square or pyramid shape to fit within the parameters set for the pallet size needed for a specific aircraft," Wright explained. "This is where the efficiency comes into play because the better a pallet is loaded the more you can fit in the plane, and this saves the Air Force money."

Loading a pallet and cargo properly also prevents cargo from shifting during flight.

"Cargo that is not loaded and tied down the way it is supposed to can shift during flight and injure passengers," he said. "That is why the palletized cargo has to be distributed evenly and tied with the appropriate straps."

Larger items that can't fit on a pallet due to shape or size still have to be balanced, properly loaded and secured.

"Algebra equations are used to determine the center-of-balance for large items such as cars and trucks," Wright explained. "The center of balance will then determine how and where the item will be loaded."

The principals taught in the course will ensure Airman remain safe and are good steward's of Air Force's money concluded Wright.