News & Announcements
Meet the Crew: Nick Underwood, Programs and Integration Engineer
Meet NOAA Programs and Integration Engineer Nick Underwood in this profile of NOAA Aircraft Operations Center team members.
![NOAA Programs and Integration Engineer Nick Underwood in his flight suit](/sites/default/files/styles/news/public/2024-06/Nick%20UAS%20Horiz%202.jpg?itok=gLtldfLR)
No off-season for science and NOAA's aircraft
NOAA’s fleet of 10 aircraft operate throughout the year to support NOAA’s diverse science missions.
![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.](/sites/default/files/styles/news/public/2024-04/Collage%20Header_Aircraft.jpg?itok=9yV9tjHN)
NOAA Hurricane Hunters collect data on Hurricane Lee
The NOAA Hurricane Hunters are flying round-the-clock missions to collect data on Hurricane Lee for forecasts and research. NOAA’s two WP-3D Orions are currently operating out of St. Croix.
![Pilots on the flight deck of a NOAA WP-3D Orion hurricane hunter aircraft](/sites/default/files/styles/news/public/2023-09/Lt-Cmdr-Brett-Copare-and-LCDR-David-Keith-at-controls-during-flight-to-Hurricane-Lee-on-dNOAA-WP-3D-Orion-N43RF-Miss-Piggy-090823-credit-Lt-Cmdr-Utama-NOAA.jpeg?itok=U2Yt0bE1)
NOAA deploys research jet to study atmospheric rivers
The NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations deployed its Gulfstream IV-SP research jet to Hawaii in December to gather data on atmospheric rivers to help forecasters and water managers on the West Coast.
![NOAA Gulfstream IV-SP taking off from Lakeland Linder Regional Airport](/sites/default/files/styles/news/public/media/NOAA%20Gulfstream%20IV-SP%20taking%20off%20from%20Lakeland%20Linder%20Regional%20Airport%20in%20August%202017_NOAA%20photo%20by%20LT%20Kevin%20Doremus.jpg?itok=WKKT1SrQ)
NOAA Hurricane Hunters provide critical data during busy 2022 Atlantic hurricane season
During the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft flew more than 582 mission hours to collect atmospheric data that is critical to hurricane forecasting and research, passing through the eye of a hurricane 65 times and deploying over 1,700 scientific instruments.
![Pilots and flight engineer at the controls of NOAA WP-3D Orion N42RF during flight into Hurricane Ian](/sites/default/files/styles/news/public/2023-02/Flight%20station%20of%20NOAA%20WP-3D%20NOAA42%20Kermit%20Cmdr%20Abitbol%20left%20seat%20flying%20into%20Hurricane%20Ian%20credit%20Nick%20Underwood%20NOAA.jpg?itok=eEkdwpHi)
NOAA aircraft surveys snowpack to determine flood risk
After a significant Lake Erie lake effect snow event, a NOAA King Air 350CER flew several surveys on Nov. 22 and 23 near Buffalo in western New York.
![Two pilots in blue flight suits at the controls of a NOAA King Air aircraft](/sites/default/files/styles/news/public/2023-02/NOAA%20Corps%20pilots%20during%20November%2022-23%20Buffalo%20Snow%20Survey%20in%20King%20Air.jpg?itok=wyJVAGkk)