Operation New Year Drop
| Operation New Year Drop | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Tradition & bilateral annual tactical airlift training exercise. |
| Location | |
| Planned by |  Daobac Self-Defense Forces Kajeran Armed Forces |
| Objective | Distribute gifts & supplies. Part of loadmaster certification training for Daoan & Kajeran airmen. |
| Date | 1 January 1977 - Present |
| Executed by |  Daoan Air Force Kajeran Air Force |
Operation New Year Drop is an annual bilateral training exercise and military tradition conducted by the Daoan and Kajeran Air Forces that began in 1978. The operation is among the longest running military airlift operation for Daobac and Kajera, and arguably in the world. The purpose of the operation is two fold: to distribute gifts & various equipment to communities throughout the Kayatman Archipelago, and as part of the loadmaster certification training program of both Daobac's and Kajera's air forces. Transport aircraft of Daoan origin take of from XXX Air Force Base (AFB) and rendezvous with Kajeran transport aircraft from Kem Tilaan AFB. After the rendezvous both transport squadrons will travel along a flightpath that will take them around the Kayatman Archipelago, distributing gifts & equipment to roughly XX communities throughout XX islands of the archipleago.
Background
The operation was originally a humanitarian airlift operation initiated by both Daobac and Kajera in the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm from 25 December and 31 December of 1977 that encompassed the entire Kayatman Archipelago which was accompanied with heavy rain and strong winds which prevented the deployment of emergency response teams to affected communities. By the 1st of January 1978 the thunderstorm have largely abated, allowing Daobac and Kajera to fly aircraft sorties throughout the archipelago to assess the damage. In an attempt to show that they needed help, villagers througout the archipelago who heard the sound of the incoming airplanes went out to the beaches and waved to the pilots where they could be seen by the passing airplanes. After identifying which islands required assistance the Daoan and Kajeran Air Force arranged and coordinated a joint airlift operation to distribute food, water and medical supplies. Dozens of aircraft flew sorties throughout the Kayatman archipelago delivering much needed supplies, and on occassion specialist military personnel, to the devastated communities. Due to the lack of a proper drop zone, supplies were airdropped either on the beaches or at bodies of water near the beach where the locals can use boats or swim out to retrieve the supplies. This airlift operation continued for six days while at the same time helicopters dispatched medical and emergency workers to help in rescue and reconstruction efforts of the devastated communities. Airlift operations were ended on the 6th January 1978. The Daoan and Kajeran governments also took steps to mitigate the risk and potential devastation these severe thunderstorms could have on their population. Homes were strengthened, storm shelters constructed and weather monitoring stations and satellites deployed. By 1978 when another severe thunderstorm struck