Media | Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

NOAA Programs and Integration Engineer Nick Underwood in his flight suit

NOAA Programs and Integration Engineer Nick Underwood stand next to an uncrewed aircraft system and underneath one of NOAA's two Lockheed WP-3D Orion "hurricane hunter" aircraft.

A collage of four photos of NOAA's different aircaft in different weather conditions to illustrate that their is no off-season for science and NOAA's aircraft.

A collage of NOAA's aircraft.

A NOAA Corps officer in a blue flightsuit standing on the stairs to a NOAA jet

NOAA Corps pilot Cmdr. Danielle Varwig on the stairs of NOAA's Gulfstream IV-SP jet.

NOAA Gulfstream IV-SP taking off from Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps pilots walk through the hangar during their tour of the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Fla.

NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps pilots walk through the hangar during their tour of the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida.

NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps pilots stand in front of NOAA WP-3D Orion "Kermit" during their tour of the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, FL.(From L to R): Ensigns Ghislain Martial Ngangnang Ngangte, Wally Wilbowo, Christian Eden, Brian D'Souza, James Seibert, Sara Towers, Dylan Legus-Sleigh

NOAA Corps pilots in front of NOAA WP-3D Orion "Kermit" at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida.

Lt. Eric Fritzsche leads new NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps pilots on a tour of the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center hangar.

Lt. Eric Fritzsche and Ensign Davis Benningfield lead new NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps on a tour through the light aircraft hangar at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center.

Lt. Eric Fritzsche and Ensign Davis Benningfield lead newly commissioned NOAA Corps officers on a tour through the light aircraft hangar at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center.

Newly commissioned NOAA Corps pilots stand in front of NOAA Twin Otter NOAA56 with Ensign Davis Benningfield and Lt.

An engineer in a flight suit holds up two weather probes called dropsondes

Electronics Engineer Steven Paul holds a dropsonde (left) and minisonde with the NOAA Gulfstream IV-SP in the background.

Pilots on the flight deck of a NOAA WP-3D Orion hurricane hunter aircraft

NOAA Corps officers Lt. Cmdr. Brett Copare and Lt. Cmdr. David Keith at controls of NOAA WP-3D Orion N43RF during flight to Hurricane Lee on Sept. 8, 2023.

Flight Director sits at workstation in aircraft

Flight Director Quinn Kalen at work station on NOAA WP-3D Orion N43RF Miss Piggy during flight to Hurricane Lee on September 08, 2023.