Editing Drop zone (section)

== Military drop zone ==
In the military context a drop zone is any designated area where personnel and or equipment may be delivered by parachute or, in the case of certain items, by free drop. The specific parameters for DZ’s may vary between militaries. For example, NATO’s STANAG normative regulation for drop zone operation and engagement differs from the parameters set out by the United States Marine Corps.

STANAG, 1993 Drop Zone chapter considers a range of factors involved in appropriate drop engagement.<ref name="FM 57-38 Chptr 6 - Drop Zones">{{Cite web|title=FM 57-38 Chptr 6 - Drop Zones|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/57-38/Ch6.htm|access-date=2020-11-23|website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref> Firstly, the airspeed of engagement over the drop zone is used to estimate the time to the landing at the drop zone. Drop altitude is another measurable variable which is calculated between the aircraft and the ground, taking into consideration the personnel, container delivery as well as the weight of the equipment delivered. The time between jumps is also considered which depends on the number of jumpers. Then, the methods of delivery are provided; there are usually three methods: low velocity to decrease airspeed most for sensitive equipment and personnel, high velocity for supplies and free drop. DZ obstacles include trees, water, powerlines or other conditions that may injure parachutists or damage equipment. Access to and size of DZ are calculated with regards to the obstacles and the number of jumpers; for example, one jumper the size of DZ should be at least 550m by 550m. Another important variable which determines the effectiveness of a DZ is the support team (DZST) servicing it. STANAG regulation suggests that there should be at least two trained members of personnel servicing a DZ. Primary missions of the DZST include wartime CDS drops to battalion or smaller size units, and peacetime visual meteorological conditions drops involving one to three aircraft for personnel, CDS, and heavy equipment.<ref name="FM 57-38 Chptr 6 - Drop Zones"/> Another important function of DZST is to be familiar and mark the DZ appropriately for the incoming aircraft as well as being able to communicate the dangers or other conditions that surround the DZ (Jumpmaster Study Guide Supplemental Materials, 2020).

The technical element of DZ planning is well justified by the prevailing factors that cause injury during “combat jumping” up to this day. In 1945 airborne assault casualty rates from parachuting itself were around 6%, now persisting at around 3%.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kragh|first1=J. F.|last2=Taylor|first2=D. C.|date=February 1996|title=Parachuting injuries: a medical analysis of an airborne operation|journal=Military Medicine|volume=161|issue=2|pages=67–69|doi=10.1093/milmed/161.2.67|issn=0026-4075|pmid=8857215|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The factors causing the injuries are often related to communication with DZST and inappropriate injury assessments. Often the failure to communicate the cancelation of the mission, or no-go weather conditions are the reasons for chaotic and damaging combat jumps. On the other hand, the vast range of factors that constitute a safe drop zone is often unmet due to the extreme and unpredictable nature of military drop zones, which inevitably causes injuries. It was found that injury assessment during combat jumps is often overexaggerated and mission ineffective, making the importance of appropriate drop zone arrangement and support even more valid.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Malish|first1=Richard|last2=DeVine|first2=John G.|date=2006-03-01|title=Delayed Drop Zone Evacuation: Execution of the Medical Plan for an Airborne Operation into Northern Iraq|journal=Military Medicine|language=en|volume=171|issue=3|pages=224–227|doi=10.7205/MILMED.171.3.224|pmid=16602521|issn=0026-4075|doi-access=free}}</ref>