HALO/HAHO

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HALO and HAHO are acronyms that describe methods of delivering personnel, equipment, and supplies from a transport aircraft at a high altitude via free-fall parachute insertion. HALO stands for High Altitude-Low Opening, and is also known as Military Free Fall (MFF). HAHO stands for High Altitude-High Opening.

In the HALO technique, the parachutist opens his parachute at a low altitude after free-falling for a period of time, while in the HAHO technique, the parachutist opens his parachute at a high altitude just a few seconds after jumping from the aircraft. HALO techniques date back to 1960 when the U.S. Air Force was conducting experiments that followed earlier work by Colonel John Stapp in the late 1940's[1] through early 1950's on survivability factors for high-flying pilots needing to eject at high altitudes. Stapp, a redoubtable research physicist and medical doctor, used himself as a human guinea pig in rocket sled tests to determine whether or not wind impact would kill ejecting pilots. In recent years, the HALO technique has been practiced by civilians as a form of skydiving.

HAHO is used for delivering equipment, supplies, or personnel, while HALO is generally used only for personnel.

In a typical HALO/HAHO insertion, the airplane will fly at altitudes of up to 8,000m (26,000ft).

Tandem HALO jump at about 15,000 feet over Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
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Tandem HALO jump at about 15,000 feet over Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.

USASOC Military Free Fall Parachute Badge
USASOC Military Free Fall Parachute Badge

HALO/HAHO
Military free-fall form of insertion. Purpose
Delivering personnel, equipment, or supplies. HALO
High-Altitude/Low-Opening HAHO
High-Altitude/High-Opening Origins
Attributed to SEAL Team SIX and USAF Col Joe Kittinger.
Perfected by U.S. special forces.
Tech. Sgt. Don Blackwell prepares to take a class "up" in the altitude chamber at Langley AFB, Virginia.
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Tech. Sgt. Don Blackwell prepares to take a class "up" in the altitude chamber at Langley AFB, Virginia.
Members of a British Combat Control team and members of the 62nd Special Tactics Squadron, perform a HALO jump at McChord Air Force Base, Washington.
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Members of a British Combat Control team and members of the 62nd Special Tactics Squadron, perform a HALO jump at McChord Air Force Base, Washington.
U.S. Army paratroopers jump from a C-130 flying 25,000 feet over the Arizona desert.
Enlarge
U.S. Army paratroopers jump from a C-130 flying 25,000 feet over the Arizona desert.

Contents

[edit] HALO

See also: Decompression sickness and John Stapp

The origins of the HALO technique date back to 1960 when the U.S. Air Force was conducting experiments that followed earlier work by Colonel John Stapp in the late 1940's[2] through early 1950's on survivability factors for high-flying pilots needing to eject at high altitudes. Stapp, a redoubtable research physicist and medical doctor, used himself as a human guinea pig in rocket sled tests to determine whether or not wind impact would kill ejecting pilots. Stapp also solved many of the issues involved in high altitude flight in his earliest work for the Air Force, and subjected himself to exposure to altitudes of 45,000 feet. Subsequently, he helped develop pressure suits and ejection seats, which have been used in jets ever since. As part of the experiments, on August 16, 1960, Colonel Joe Kittinger performed the first high altitude jump at an altitude of 19 miles above the Earth's surface. However, the technique was used for combat for the first time in the U.S. military involvement in Laos, when members of MACV-SOG performed the first high altitude combat jumps. SEAL Team SIX of the United States Navy expanded the HALO technique to include delivery of boats and other large items in conjunction with parachutists.

The technique is used to airdrop supplies, equipment, or personnel at high altitudes when aircraft can fly above SAM missile engagement levels through enemy skies without posing a threat to the transport or load.

For military cargo airdrops, the rigged load is pulled from the aircraft by a stabilizing parachute. The load then proceeds to free-fall to a low altitude where a cargo parachute opens to allow a low-velocity landing. Military personnel will later move to the landing point in order to secure the equipment or to unpack the supplies.

In a typical HALO exercise, the parachutists will jump from the aircraft, free-fall for a period of time at terminal velocity, and open his parachute at a low altitude. The combination of high speed downwards, and minimal metal and forward air-speed serves to defeat radar, enabling a stealthy insertion.

[edit] HAHO

The HAHO technique is used to airdrop personnel at high altitudes when aircraft can't fly above enemy skies without posing a threat to the jumpers.

In a typical HAHO exercise, the jumper will jump from the aircraft and deploy the parachute at a high altitude, 10–15 seconds later after the jump (typically at 27,000 feet or so). The jumper will use a compass to guide theirself while flying for 30 or more miles. The jumper will use way points and terrain features to navigate to his desired landing zone, and along the way, he must correct his course for changes in wind speed and direction; making for a tricky navigation problem.

The HAHO technique is also used for delivering military teams. The team will jump from the aircraft and form up in a stack while flying in the air with their parachutes. Usually, the jumper in the lowest position will set the travel course and act as a guide for the other team members.

[edit] Health risks

This type of parachuting technique can be dangerous. At high altitudes of the Earth's atmosphere (greater than 22,000 feet), the oxygen quantities required for human respiration become thin. The lack of oxygen at high altitudes can lead to Hypoxia.

A typical HALO exercise will require a pre-breathing period (30-45 minutes) prior to jump where the parachuter breathes 100% oxygen in order to flush nitrogen from their blood stream. Also, a HALO parachuter will employ an oxygen bottle during the jump. Danger comes from medical circumstances affecting the parachuter. For example, cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug use (including antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, and analgesics),anaemia, carbon monoxide, fatigue and anxiety can all lead to a parachuter being more susceptible to hypoxia. In addition, problems with the oxygen bottle and during the changeover from the pre-breather to the oxygen bottle can result in the return of nitrogen to the parachuter's bloodstream and, therefore, an increased likelihood of being affected by Hypoxia. Just one breath of regular air will bring the jumper's blood nitrogen levels close to normal. A parachuter suffering from Hypoxia may lose consciousness and therefore be unable to open their parachute.

Another risk is from the low ambient temperatures prevalent at higher altitudes. The parachuter may face subzero temperatures and can experience frost bite. However, HALO parachuters generally wear polypropylene knit undergarments and other warm clothing to prevent this.

As with all skydiving, participants run the risk of serious injury or death due to canopy malfunction.

[edit] Typical equipment

In a typical HALO exercise, a parachuter will jump with:

  • an altimeter
  • an automatic parachute activation device (AAD, e.g. Cypres) that automatically deploys the parachute if the parachuter descends at a rate of more than approx. 80 mph at an altitude of approx. 800 ft. or below. The AAD assumes in this case that the parachute has not been opened yet and activates the spring-loaded reserve chute.
  • a knife
  • a helmet
  • a pair of gloves
  • a pair of military free-fall boots (designed for ankle support)
  • an oxygen bottle and mask (if jumping over 12,000 feet)
  • a 50-100+ pound ALICE (All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment) pack with combat gear

[edit] List of HALO/HAHO capable military units

[edit] References in Fiction

  • In the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), 007 HALO-jumps out of a plane.
  • In the video game Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, set in 1964, the protagonist Naked Snake performs the world's first HALO jump. Solid Snake uses the same technique in Metal Gear: Ghost Babel.
  • In the video game Splinter Cell, Sam Fisher uses a HALO jump to reach the final level of the game, the presidential palace. However, it is only implied, and the viewer doesn't watch the jump.
  • In the James Bond film Die Another Day (2002), Bond and Jinx do a HALO jump out of a plane, using small one person gliders, (referred to in the film as "switchblade".)
  • The television show The Unit (2006) shows that the special operations team therein is HALO/HAHO capable. Though the dialogue indicates that they are to do a HAHO jump, they are shown free-falling for a considerable time, making the actual jump HALO.
  • In the comic book The Punisher, Castle performed a HALO jump into Siberia during the 'Mother Russia' story arc of the Marvel MAX series of the comic.
  • In Tears of the Sun (2003), Bruce Willis and his team of Navy SEALs HALO near the Mazon Rainforest. The film showcases about 30 seconds of the HALO process.
  • In the book, The Supernaturalist, a HALO is a type of spaceship. HALO (in this case) stands for High-Altitude Low Orbit.
  • In the last episode of the fourth season of the Alias TV series, Sidney Bristow and her comrades-in-arms HALO-jump out of a plane to reach the target.
  • In the Movie Navy Seals (1990), Michael Biehn and his Navy SEAL Team HALO jump and then swim into a coastal town to extract an informant.
  • In the PS2 video game Spy Fiction, the first level begins with a HALO jump.
  • In the first season of Jag (1995), Harm has to HALO jump with SEAL TEAM 2 to find out why a General would kill a Naval Aviator who was assigned to SEAL TEAM 2 to fly a cocaine plane out of Colombia.
  • In the film Reign of Fire (2002), the Archangels are HALO jumpers who risk their lives as bait for the dragons.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. Divine, Mark (2004). Navy SEALs Air Operations - Free Fall: HALO/HAHO (used with permission). US Navy SEAL 1989 to present. Founder of NavySEALs.com.
  2. Allen, Jeffrey (July 1997). High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) jump at McChord AFB. US Air Force. United States of America.
  3. Gempis, Val (July 1997). A Bad Altitude. Airman. US Air Force. United States of America.
  4. Black, Mike. HALO jump over Yuma Proving Ground, AZ. US Marine Corps. United States of America.
  5. US DOD (June 5, 2003). US DOD Dictionary of Military Terms. US Department of Defense. United States of America.
  6. US DOD (June 5, 2003). US DOD Dictionary of Military Terms: Joint Acronyms and Abbreviations. US Department of Defense. United States of America.
  7. McKenna, Pat (July 1997). A Bad Altitude. Airman. US Air Force. United States of America.
  8. US Army Infantry School (November 1, 1995). Lesson 3: Airlift Requests and Personnel Used in Airborne. Fundamentals of Airborne Operations, Edition B. US Army Infantry School. US Army. United States of America.
  9. McManners, Hugh (2003), Ultimate Special Forces, pub Dorling Kindersley http://doi.contentdirections.com/mr/dk.jsp?doi=10.1221/0789499738
  10. http://www.combatreform.com/highaltitudemasstac.htm
  11. http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1986/nov-dec/boyd.html
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