Anybody know whats up with the CADS###A callsigns I've been seeing lately. Right now there is a Canadian C-130 as CADS45A.
The other day I saw 11-5734 as CADS31A and 16-5855 as CADS33A. I've seen more other days.
They've typically been in Louisiana.
Track CADS31A flight from Alexandria Intl to Little Rock Afb
flightaware.com
Track CADS33A flight from Alexandria Intl to Chennault Intl
flightaware.com
I've figured it out, Combat Aerial Delivery School. But what about the suffixes?
From an old article
The course comprises more than 425 academic hours and 95 flying hours. There are two classes a year at the school, with four to nine graduates in each class. "These graduates will go on to become primary weapons officers, running the weapons and tactics office at squadron or wing level," said White. "They will be responsible for teaching other crewmembers the lessons they learned."
The joint operations directorate is the other half of CADS mission here. Its main mission is to support Joint Readiness Training Center exercises. The exercises are joint ventures with the Army that provide realistic training for light infantry and airborne units and for C-141 Starlifter, C-130 and C-17 Globemaster III crews. JOD teams plan, coordinate, direct and execute nine exercises a year.
Little Rock is a staging base, or starting point, for various units across the Air Force to fly into Ft. Polk, La., to train with Army units.
