Coastal mapping aboard the NOAA King Air
Come along for a day on a coastal mapping mission on a NOAA King Air with Lt. Julia Waldsmith! Learn how specially equipped NOAA King Air aircraft capture aerial imagery of the coastal waters of the United States and its territories. The NOAA National Ocean Service uses this data to update the shorelines and coastal features on nautical charts. They also provide this imagery to emergency managers, as well as the public online, to help with damage assessment and response planning during natural disasters like hurricanes, flooding, and tornadoes.
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From nose to tail: WP-3D Orion scientific instrumentation
Over the past few months, we’ve taken you from nose to tail on our NOAA WP-3D Orion aircraft to take a closer look at the scientific instrumentation we use during hurricane mission flights. Check out the "Science Saturday" playlist to hear from our flight crews about the equipment they use to gather data that helps improve forecasting to save lives and protect property.
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Emerging technologies take flight from NOAA aircraft
In March, NOAA WP-3D Orion N43RF Miss Piggy successfully conducted three flights in support of the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory’s emerging technologies program. Over the course of three missions, the team successfully deployed and tested 40 Skyfora Streamsondes and two Black Swift S0 small uncrewed aircraft systems. Learn more about the program from Dr. Joseph Cione, lead meteorologist and principal investigator for emerging technologies.
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NOAA aircraft supports Francis Scott Key bridge collapse response
Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey collected emergency response imagery while aboard one of NOAA’s King Air aircraft to support updating the shoreline features of impacted NOAA nautical charts. The enhanced nautical charts aided responding local, state, and federal agencies in their missions through improved situational awareness. Learn how NOAA’s science, experts, and assets contributed to the federal response to this disaster.
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NOAA Twin Otter supports Rice’s whale aerial surveys
While conducting aerial surveys over the western Gulf of Mexico aboard NOAA DHC-6 Twin Otter N46RF, NOAA Fisheries scientists had the rare opportunity in April to observe two Rice’s whales. There are likely fewer than 100 Rice’s whales in the Gulf of Mexico, the only area where the species is known to occur. Aerial surveys supported by NOAA’s Twin Otter aircraft complement traditional ship-based surveys and allow the team to cover a broader area faster, photograph animals directly from above to assess body condition, and observe these endangered animals using non-invasive methods. Boaters, anglers, and others should report all suspected sightings of Rice’s whales by calling (877) WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343).
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Meet the crew: Nick Underwood
How do scientific instruments for research projects get on NOAA aircraft? Well, we have an engineer for that! Meet Nick Underwood, Programs and Integration Engineer at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center, in this profile.
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Heritage: 25 years of science aboard 'Gonzo'
NOAA’s Gulfstream IV-SP (N49RF), also known as Gonzo, celebrates its 25th year of collecting data and its final hurricane season this year. Take a look back to where it all started: January 1997, on a windswept runway in Shannon, Ireland with the crew supporting the Fronts and Atlantic Storm Tracks Experiment (FASTEX 1997). Gonzo joined six other research aircraft and four research vessels to document the life cycles of cyclones originating over the data-sparse North Atlantic.
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Featured Photo
 NOAA WP-3D Orion N42RF “Kermit” visited five cities along the U.S. East Coast May 6-10 to promote hurricane preparedness. Our crew shared the importance of our hurricane missions with local emergency responders, media outlets, and the general public. Here NOAA Flight Director Kerri Englert Media is seen conducting a media interview during a stop in Florida. Photo: Sophie Talbert/NOAA
On the Radar
Hurricane season has just begun, and our crews are standing by for hurricane research and reconnaissance missions. We’re ready to collect crucial data to save lives and protect property whenever we receive the call.
In addition to hurricane missions, the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center is supporting several other important projects scheduled for this summer.
A NOAA Twin Otter will fly missions in Utah and Colorado to support the NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory’s study of summertime ozone. These missions will measure ozone precursors along with additional chemical measurements and meteorological data, contributing to a better understanding of the factors that lead to high ozone levels.
In Alaska, a NOAA Twin Otter will conduct marine mammal aerial surveys to monitor harbor seal and steller sea lion populations. The Twin Otter will also survey ocean and atmospheric conditions in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas.
The NOAA King Air aircraft will be conducting coastal mapping projects and standing by to collect aerial emergency response imagery in case disaster strikes.
We are looking forward to sharing accomplishments from our spring season with you in the next issue of Flightlines. You can subscribe to the newsletter by signing up here and be sure to follow us on social media!
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If your plans are taking you to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 21-28, please visit our booth in the International Federal Partnership Pavilion in Hangar D.
As always, you can learn how to join the NOAA Corps at noaacorps.noaa.gov or search for civilian NOAA jobs, including positions at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center, at USAJobs.gov. You can also find us on LinkedIn.
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