NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter Fleet Is Aging. Senators Want to Make It Bigger and Newer
The bill would fund new aircraft, hire specialized pilots and require backup planes to reduce mission cancellations and protect forecast accuracy.
- On Wednesday, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, and ranking member Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, introduced legislation providing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration $2.5 billion for new aircraft.
- NOAA relies on three aging aircraft, some more than 50 years old, facing mechanical issues and budget threats from the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency and White House budget requests.
- Mandating the acquisition of manned aircraft, the bill prevents a transition to drones while requiring backup planes and advanced tail-mounted Doppler radars to improve hurricane and atmospheric river forecasts.
- Cruz and Cantwell champion the bill to ensure modern capabilities for delivering reliable forecasts, with Cruz stating it "will ensure NOAA has the modern fleet and capabilities needed to continue delivering the reliable, accurate forecasts Americans depend on."
- Lawmakers seek to codify NOAA's reconnaissance role to prevent transfers to the Air Force, warning that failing to bolster the research fleet soon could cause forecast accuracy to suffer significantly.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Bipartisan Senate bill would codify NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters, expand fleet
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hurricane Hunters would be enshrined into federal statute and gain authorization for a bigger fleet under a bipartisan Senate bill released Wednesday. A coalition of senators announced the introduction of the “Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Recapitalization Act” just a few weeks into the current hurricane season that began June 1. The bill is spearheaded by Senate Commerce, Science and Transportat…
A bipartisan group of senators seeks to triple the size of the fleet of hurricane hunters, the three large and aged planes used to fly directly to hurricanes and tropical storm systems in order to measure their size...
Bill to expand Hurricane Hunter fleet filed - WXXV News 25
A bipartisan Senate Bill aims to triple the size of the Hurricane Hunter fleet. The bill, introduced Wednesday, would give the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, two-and-a-half billion dollars to buy at least six new planes. There’s also an additional $45 million per year to hire more specialized pilots to fly them. On top of that, the measure would codify NOAA’s reconnaissance and research role into law, thus giving it protection …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 91% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
