text: Drop Zones
  6-3. Table 6-4 shows airdrop altitudes for different types of training missions. (For more information
  on drop altitudes, see AFI 11-231 and AFI 11-410.)
  6-4. The aircraft altimeter displays altitude in feet indicated (feet above sea level), not in AGL (feet
  above the highest point on the ground). Thus, the pilot might request the drop altitude in “feet indicated.”
  You can calculate this simply by following this example:
  y Obtain the drop altitude, that is, the distance in feet from the highest point on the drop zone
  (field elevation) to the desired altitude of the aircraft. In this example, drop altitude equals 800
  feet (A, Table 6-3).
  y Obtain the highest field elevation in feet above sea level. Round this number up to the nearest
  multiple of 50 (round 537 up to 550, for example) (B, Table 6-3). For purposes of obtaining the
  drop altitude in feet indicated, use this number for field elevation.
  y Sum the two numbers you obtained to yield drop altitude in feet indicated (C, Table 6-3).
  Time of Day Rotary Wing Aerial Delivery
  Type of Load (Light Conditions) Altitudes
  Personnel Day or Night 1,500 Feet AGL
  (includes limited visibility)
  Bundles Day 300 Feet AGL
  Night 500 Feet AGL
  (includes limited visibility)
  Note: If the rotary wing aircraft is flying 90 KIAS or faster, then it can drop personnel as low
  as 1,250 feet AGL.
  Type of Load Fixed Wing Aerial Delivery Altitudes
  Planning 1,000 feet AGL
  Combat operations (war) Determined jointly by airborne and airlift commanders
  Tactical training 800 feet AGL
  Basic airborne training 1,250 feet AGL
  HALO (minimum opening) 2,500 feet AGL
  Simulated airborne training 500 feet AGL
  bundle-personnel (SATB-P)
  Tactical training bundle (TTB) Use drop altitude of simulated load
  Table 6-4. Airdrop altitudes for rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.
  TYPE OF LOAD
  6-5. The type of load is considered when estimating the drop zone time requirement, or how many
  bundles or personnel can be exited in a single pass over the drop zone. This is a consideration as a
  commander may request a DZ capable of exiting a certain amount of jumpers in a single pass, or may need
  to know how many jumpers can exit over a preselected DZ. For personnel, allow one second for each
  jumper after the first. For example, ten jumpers minus the first jumper equals nine jumpers. Multiply nine
  times one second. Allow nine seconds for all ten jumpers to get out the door. For equipment, allow three
  seconds for each door bundle after the first. For example, five bundles minus the first bundle equals four
  bundles. Multiply four times three seconds each. Allow twelve seconds to get the equipment out the door.
  There is no set time to wait between exiting bundles and personnel. However, the jumpmaster team must
  ensure all bundles have exited the aircraft, and that no unsafe conditions exist, before they start exiting
  personnel IAW Chapter 10 of FM 3-21.220. Bundles and personnel must never exit at the same time.