Hurricane Wilma Recon Discussion Thread

[cycloneye]

It has happened alot this year. I'm afraid the planes have just been over worked this year and last. They have got to increase the budget for the NHC!

BINGO !!.

[cycloneye]

I wonder why they dont leave at least one plane in St Croix for emergency situations like this one when problems arise to a plane.Also flying from St Croix is more close to the system than flying from a base in Georgia.

I know it's all about $$$$$$.

[DoctorHurricane2003]

Didn't they 'upgrade' plane models this year?

[cycloneye]

I can't believe that there is not another plane ready for a mission this afternoon as it has been since 10:00am that the plane turned around to base.

[artist]

seems they may have the synoptics plane? Don't know about the ones going into the canes. Anyone else know if this is right or not?

[cjrciadt]

How about the unmanned plane that was tried out during Ophelia? I s it even operational?

[artist]

not supposed to be fully operational til next year and it can only go to certain windspeeds - maybe just to 110mph? Can't remember for certain.

[MiamiensisWx]

I wonder why they dont leave at least one plane in St Croix for emergency situations like this one when problems arise to a plane.Also flying from St Croix is more close to the system than flying from a base in Georgia.

I know it's all about $$$$$$.

Agreed... how come they havn't been flying planes from any of the Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles or any other islands in the Caribbean (such as St. Croix)? Should they build more bases for RECON missions on many of the islands in the Caribbean, or should they just bring in more planes to the island bases? Something has to be done, and something HAS to work...

[cycloneye]

SXXX50 KNHC 181611
AF302 0524A WILMA HDOB 03 KNHC
1600 3338N 08511W 03324 0160 286 012 062 181 013 03492 0000000000
1600. 3337N 08513W 03322 0161 285 011 062 169 012 03491 0000000000
1601 3335N 08515W 03322 0161 285 011 060 169 011 03491 0000000000
1601. 3334N 08518W 03362 0157 285 010 060 165 012 03527 0000000000
1602 3333N 08520W 03642 0174 297 015 044 185 015 03825 0000000100
1602. 3332N 08522W 03927 0189 306 015 030 203 016 04125 0000000000
1603 3331N 08524W 04195 0206 304 015 012 229 015 04409 0000000000
1603. 3330N 08526W 04434 0222 305 016 007 225 016 04662 0000000000
1604 3329N 08527W 04628 0233 304 016 021 231 017 04868 0000000000
1604. 3327N 08529W 04836 0245 301 015 037 249 016 05089 0000000000
1605 3326N 08530W 04964 0254 288 012 043 269 014 05225 0000000000
1605. 3324N 08531W 05161 0262 261 009 055 339 010 05431 0000000000
1606 3323N 08532W 05308 0268 250 010 067 363 010 05585 0000000000
1606. 3321N 08533W 05436 0278 249 008 077 357 009 05722 0000000000
1607 3320N 08534W 05552 0284 273 009 087 349 009 05844 0000000000
1607. 3318N 08535W 05681 0290 281 012 099 325 013 05981 0000000000
1608 3316N 08535W 05813 0295 279 013 111 319 014 06118 0000000000
1608. 3315N 08536W 05945 0302 273 013 121 337 013 06256 0000000000
1609 3313N 08537W 06061 0308 268 014 131 349 014 06379 0000000000
1609. 3311N 08538W 06102 0311 269 014 135 355 014 06423 0000000000


Well another plane is flying now.

[MiamiensisWx]

Good! Please don't go back to the base, RECON... we need you!

[artist]

YAY!

[senorpepr]

I wonder why they dont leave at least one plane in St Croix for emergency situations like this one when problems arise to a plane.Also flying from St Croix is more close to the system than flying from a base in Georgia.

I know it's all about $$$$$$.

Well... consider it like this: at every forward base you have, not only you have to have an aircraft there, but you need at least two full crews at standby. Each person that is "deployed" at the forward base would cost the gov't a healthy sum of money each day -- imagine the cost involved with two full crews. Now, add the cost of maintenance crews and equipment at the forward base.

Now the all that added cost to one forward base, add either the hardships to the families (imagine being away from your family for six months) or the further costs of moving those families to the forward location.

Now add the disconnect between the forward base and the operators at the home base. Training and procedures are not fluent like they are now. This will involve additional "TDYs" (temporary duties) that will cost more money.

All said... you're looking at a multi-billion dollar price tag. The taxpayers aren't going to fork that over, so that money comes from the budget. That means a loss of missions, dropsondes, and buoys.

Bottom line, while it's a good idea in theory, a forward base is a bad idea.

[cycloneye]

That is very good to know.Thanks Mike for posting that as many of us dont know the interiorities of how that all works.

[no advance]

What do you all think? I think they will find it moving due west 60mph.

[gotoman38]

Looks like they're flying around the W tip of Cuba this afternoon through the Yucatan Channel?

[cycloneye]

They are going to cross the island of Cuba as they did last night.

[cycloneye]

Plane flying now over Cuba.

[x-y-no]

They are going to cross the island of Cuba as they did last night.

Interesting, I didn't realize they had a deal which allows them to do that.

[calculatedrisk]

Plane flying now over Cuba.

Are you aware of any information / formal agreement that allows overflight of Cuba? Obviously this benefits both countries.

[senorpepr]

Plane flying now over Cuba.

Are you aware of any information / formal agreement that allows overflight of Cuba? Obviously this benefits both countries.

AF recon has to get special permissions from the Cuban govt to fly through their airspace. NOAA does not have this issue since they're not military.