Behind the Scenes with the Hurricane Hunters (Part 1)

| June 11, 2010 @ 11:45 pm | 8 Replies

On May 19th, I was invited to fly along with several other members of the news media on a training mission with the Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron based in Biloxi.

We gathered on base for a mission and safety briefing prior to the flight. Then it was time for the walk to the flight line. The specially outfitted C-130J Hercules aircraft stood in stark gray profile against a bright blue Mississippi spring sky.

After an additional safety briefing from the Loadmasters on how to use the oxygen and life preservers, we taxied and took off for the three hour mission out over the Gulf. Because of the extra people on the media flight, the aircrew on this date included an extra Loadmaster.

The Weather Reconnaissance Loadmaster wears two hats on a weather reconnaissance mission. Safety is their first job. They are responsible for pre-flight checks, loading the plane and making sure that all safety precautions are implemented.

After the flight is underway, they play a critical role in the weather mission. Their job is to release the dropsondes, weather instruments that are jettisoned from the plane through a special pressurized release tube. The Loadmaster coordinates with the Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officer to determine where the sondes should be released.

Once released, the sondes then float to the ocean surface, dangling beneath a parachute. It takes about four minutes for the instrument to reach the surface in about four minutes. The Loadmaster collects the data from the sonde as it falls, including temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind direction and speed.

This information is the key component of helping forecasters on the ground at the National Hurricane Center to ascertain the intensity and threat profile of the storm. The Loadmaster does quality checking on the data and then transmits it to the Hurricane Center.

Tomorrow, we will look at the role of the Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officer. Follow my daily weather history tweets on Twitter @wxhistorian.

Category: Pre-November 2010 Posts

About the Author ()

Bill Murray is the President of The Weather Factory. He is the site's official weather historian and a weekend forecaster. He also anchors the site's severe weather coverage. Bill Murray is the proud holder of National Weather Association Digital Seal #0001 @wxhistorian

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