53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron2014 Hurricane Season – Ops Review

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

Lt Col Jon Talbot1st Lt Leesa Froelich

Interdepartmental Hurricane ConferenceTropical Cyclone Research Forum

2-5 March 2015Jacksonville, FL

Season Comparison For Tasking

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

’ 10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ‘14

TASKED 232 191 162 103 141

CANCELLED 85 59 36 61 28

REQUIRED 147 132 126 42 113

ACCOMP 142 130 125 42 111

RELIABILITY 97% 99% 99% 100% 98%

NHOP Flight Hours

HOURS

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

53rd Flying Hrs by Month

June July August September October November0

50100150200250300350400450

16.3

125.4

409.1

82.9

282

0

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

Flying Hours by Storm

95.6

74.9

97.8

56.847.6

27.1

19.611.1

30.2

94

25.346.6

Arthur (A)Bertha (A)Cristobal (A)Iselle (CP)Julio (CP)Norbert (EP)Odile (EP)Polo (EP)Dolly (A)Gonzalo (A)Hanna (A)Anna (CP)

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

CHAT and the HAT

• Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour• The 2014 CHAT was successful and visited Manzanillo, Ixtap

Zihuatenejo, and Huatulco Mexico, St Vincent, and San Juan Puerto Rico. Severe Weather cancelled the event in San Juan

• The 2015 CHAT will visit Merida, and Cozumel Mexico, Bonaire, Santo Domingo, St Kitts, St Eustatius, and San Juan PR.

• This May, the 53WRS along with NOAA AOC will visit Halifax, Nova Scotia; Atlantic City, NJ; Norfolk, VA; Myrtle Beach, SC; St Augustine and Marathon, FL as part of the East Coast Hurricane Awareness Tour

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

Technological Improvements

Aug 24 Aspen V 3.1.775 installed

Software Upgrade—Spring 2015 -SFMR and mission software ARWO computer system

hardware refresh in the works 1st step needed to allow radar

imagery transmission Sat-phone Upgrade

-All aircraft modified summer 2014

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

AXBT’s

• Started 3yr test program 2011 Season• Current launch system marginal but usable at 10Kft or below• Navy provided data operators and portable receivers

• Expect operations to continue 2015• Utility for hurricane operational models will be determined after

2014 season(Delayed)• Extension request submitted 2014-2016

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

AXBT Launcher

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

Buoys Deployed for Ana

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

U.S. AIR FORCE RESERVE