Local Agency and NOAA Show Off New Aircraft

By ANN Correspondent Juan Jimenez

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Emergency and Disaster Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration held a joint educational open house on March 20, at San Juan's Fernando Ribas Dominicci Airport's main terminal ramp. An open invitation was issued to anyone on the island interested in taking a tour of the USAFR's newest hurricane hunter aircraft - one of three WC-130-J's of the 403rd Wing, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron based out of Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi - and several hundred local residents responded by lining up as early as 9am for the afternoon activity.

The purpose of the open house, aside from giving islanders the opportunity to see the aircraft up close and personal, revolved around raising awareness of the upcoming 2004 hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends November 30. The Emergency Management agency, headed by its current Interim Executive Director, Nazario Lugo Burgos, along with other local and federal agencies, team up at this time of the year to distribute meteorological information to ensure that the citizens are aware of the threats posed by the Atlantic hurricane season.

The aircraft used for these missions is the latest model in the long and distinguished C-130 history. The WC-130-J's cargo bay is surprisingly empty except for the weather officer's and dropsonde operator's gear. In fact, when not operating in hurricane hunter missions, the aircraft can also be used for cargo operations. The J model is also the most technologically advanced so far - virtually all of the old steam gauge technology has been replaced with digital systems. In fact, the technology used on the aircraft has advanced to the point that one crew member position, that of the traditional flight engineer, has been eliminated. The crew is now composed of the aircraft commander, first officer, navigator, weather officer and dropsonde operator.

In addition to the hurricane hunter aircraft, several other organizations had their hardware on display, including the US Coast Guard, the PR National Guard, several media helicopters, the Civil Air Patrol and the PR Fire Department.

The crew of the aircraft visiting San Juan was composed of Col. Charles S. Splash, aircraft commander; Col. Ruben J. Rodarce, pilot; Col. Valerie Henry, weather officer; Greg Lufkin, navigator; Wes Wood, dropsonde operator. At this activity, the crew complement was augmented by VIP personnel, including Max Mayfield, director or the National Hurricane Center; Lixion D�vila of the National Hurricane Center in Miami; Israel Matos, officer in charge of the National Weather Service in San Juan; and John Pab�n, aircraft coordinator and hurricane hunter liaison to the National Hurricane Center for the USAFR 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron; Bill Wagner of FEMA for the Southern Florida Region.

FMI: www.aemepr.org, www.hurricanehunters.com, www.nhc.noaa.go