text: Air Force Instruction
  1, 2 3
  Altitude (AGL) Width Length
  Heavy Equipment
  One platform 1,000 yards/915 meters
  600 yards/549
  To 1,100 feet Additional Add 400 yards/366 meters (C-130), 500 yards/457 meters
  meters
  platforms (C-141/C-17/C-5) to the trailing edge for each additional
  platform.
  Above 1,100 feet Add 30 yards/28 meters to the width and length for each 100 feet above 1,100 feet (15 yards/14
  meters to each side of DZ, 15 yards/14 meters to each end).
  1
  This does not apply to AFSOC assigned or gained, to aircraft OPCON to USSOCOM, or to a theater special
  operations command:
  a. For day visual formations, increase width by 100 yards/92 meters (50 yards/46 meters on each side).
  b. For C-141, C-130 station-keeping equipment (SKE) AWADS formation, increase width by 400 yards/366 meters
  (200 yards/184 meters on each side).
  c. At night, increase width by 100 yards/92 meters for single ship visual drops (50 yards/46 meters on each side).
  Increase 200 yards/184 m for visual formations (100 yards/92 meters on each side).
  2
  C-17 DZ width adjustments. You might need to adjust more than once:
  a. For visual formations (day or night), increase width by 100 yards/92 meters (50 yards/46 meters each side).
  b. For night pilot-directed airdrops, increase width an additional 100 yards/92 meters (50 yards/46 meters each side).
  This does not apply to aircraft performing GPS drops.
  c. For SKE HE/CDS formation, increase width by 400 yards/366 meters (200 yards/183 meters each side).
  d. For personnel formations, minimum DZ basic width using center PIs is 1,240 yards for 2-ship elements and 1,800
  yards for 3-ship elements. When using offset PIs, minimum basic width is 1,100 yards for 2-ship elements and
  1,300 yards for 3-ship elements.
  3
  This does not apply to AFSOC assigned or gained, to aircraft OPCON to USSOCOM, or to a theater special
  operations command. At night, increase length by 100 yards/92 meters for visual drops (50 yards/46 meters on
  each end). This also does not apply to a C-17 doing GPS drops.
  Table E-2. Standard drop zone size criteria (continued).
  GROUND MARKED RELEASE SYSTEM
  E-3. The GMRS is mainly used for small unit insertion and aerial resupply operations. It is the most
  tactical drop zone because communication with the drop aircraft is not necessary. Table E-3 shows the
  constants for different airdrop loads. Table E-4, page E-4, shows the forward throw distance for various
  aircraft. Forward throw distance is how far a parachutist or cargo container travels along the aircraft flight
  path. It begins after the person or cargo exits the aircraft, and continues until the parachute fully opens and
  the load descends vertically. (For more on the GMRS, see AFI 13-217.)
  Type Drop K (Load Drift Constant)
  Personnel (static line) 3.0
  Heavy equipment 1.5
  CDS/CRL/CRS 1.5
  Door bundle 1.5
  SATB 2.4
  Table E-3. Ground marked release system load drift constants (K).