Thank you for the info on helocopters and payloads etc. I am as frustrated as the next person that people are dying, and perhaps when it's over it will be time to really get down to who should have done what when. However people seem to think it's a simple matter to get food and water in, and if it were, it would be there now.
susie
If it were so easy it would be done. The best place for heavy lift Helos I.E. CH-53E's that can carry 16 tons is from an LHA and Two of them are on there way with CH-53s onboard.
Remember that LHA can produce water as well, and carrys fuel for these helos, if you can't fuel them it doesn't matter if you have supplies, they won't fly, also you need repair crews and fresh crews to fly them.
Today's break in flight ops is more likely due to crew Fatigue, then to any random shots fired into the air, the crews and the birds are tired, in need of repair and parts and might be low on gas as well.
There are limits to how long these aircraft can be flow safely and it is my opinion that they have reached that point.
and yes it is my expert opinion.