LANGLEY AFB, VA. –
Daily weather reports aid in preventing death, injury, millions of dollars in aircraft damages by informing base commanders on how weather will affect each of their respective missions.
The 1st Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight uses a variety of inside and outside sources to help safeguard Langley’s Airmen, flyers and equipment from inclement weather conditions.
“Weather reports are most critical when there are flying operations occurring at Langley, especially when aircraft are taking off for or returning from a mission and hazardous weather is approaching or occurring at the base,” said 2nd Lt. James Mitchell, 1st OSS Weather Flight commander.
For up-to-date accurate information, the Weather Flight turns to an in-house, and local and non-local weather resources. These include:
-Official Langley weather observations and thousands taken by civilian and military meteorologists throughout the world
-Weather radar
-Satellite sensors
-Weather buoys at sea
-Computer weather model data
-Pilot reports
-Air traffic controller reports
-Marine weather reports from ships at sea
-Unofficial reports from trusted sources, such as law enforcement, the fire department the press and the public at large
The Weather Flight gives an initial weather report during the morning commander’s call and continues to update the commanders throughout the day. The airfield forecast is updated three times a day, the mission execution forecast every four hours after the initially issued three hours prior to the first takeoff of the fly day and the seven-day forecast once daily. Additional updates are made if there are any drastic weather changes or criteria crosses amendment thresholds.
“Our forecasts help the aircrews accomplish their mission in the most effective manner and will keep them away from weather hazards … that could restrict safe flights, takeoffs and landings,” he said. “All weather reports are critical due to there always being personnel and assets needing protection from the elements.”
One of the foremost weather dangers facing flyers is thunderstorms, proving extremely hazardous to aircraft and produce severe turbulence, icing, lightning, hair and occasional tornadoes.
“There have been numerous accident reports where thunderstorms have damaged and/or directly contributed to the crash of the aircraft,” Lieutenant Mitchell said. “Weather can be a significant contributing factor to aircraft mishaps. So, one of the chief preventions is telling the aircrews where thunderstorms are and where they are forecasted to form throughout the day.”
Though much of the weather report is geared to the flying units to help in the decision-making and sortie-planning processes, it is also imperative to the base at large for resource protection, which saves lives and mitigates property damage, Lieutenant Mitchell said.
Each mission – at home station and abroad – brings unique weather conditions and safety hazards. With the help of three forecaster augmentees from the Air National Guard, the Weather Flight is able to accomplish the mission each day.
Due to the manning shortage as a result of operation tempo, the Airmen were brought in from Washington, D.C., Florida and North Carolina’s Air National Guard.
“These members fit in quickly with minimal training and have brought a wide array of technical expertise and experience to include combat experience in the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Lieutenant Mitchell said. “They are vital in helping to make sure our critical mission at the weather shop is successfully accomplished on a daily basis.”