Since
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was
established in 1970, the agency has operated aircraft to aid in the
collection of earth observation data to understand and predict
changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts; collect data
necessary for weather and water forecasts; and help conserve and
manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. For example, the
National Weather Service relies on NOAA aircraft to determine the
water content of snow and collect data to support its forecast and
warning responsibilities. In contrast, the National Marine Fisheries
Service uses NOAA aircraft to count marine mammals and track the
location of whale pods.
Flight
hours
NOAA’s
aircraft fly approximately 3,800 to 5,200 flight hours per year. In
fiscal year 2013, NOAA’s nine planes—which range in size from
small twin-engine aircraft to large four-engine P-3 Orion
aircraft—logged about 3,900 flight hours.
NOAA-owned
aircraft are unique in that they have been altered to accommodate a
wide range of specialized scientific data collection instruments,
some of which are specifically designed for use in NOAA aircraft. For
example, NOAA’s Gulfstream IV-SP and P-3 Orion planes can carry a
tail doppler radar, which is used to gather information about winds
and precipitation within tropical storms and cyclones. These planes
are the only government-owned aircraft used for hurricane research to
improve the forecasting of a hurricane’s track and intensity.
NOAA’s P-3 Orion aircraft also facilitate testing of new scientific
instrumentation and data collection strategies. NOAA operates heavy
aircraft capable of flying in tropical cyclones; light aircraft that
conduct shoreline change assessments, oil spill investigations, snow
surveys for spring flood forecasts, and other missions; and unmanned
aircraft systems.
Hurricane
reconnaissance
Although
most hurricane reconnaissance is conducted by Air Force aircraft,
NOAA is required to make its P-3 Orion aircraft available if the Air
Force is unable to meet the reconnaissance needs posed by severe
weather events. One of NOAA’s two operating P-3 Orion planes must
be configured and available to conduct reconnaissance each hurricane
season from June 1 to November 30, and the other P-3 Orion must be
available from July 15 to September 30. During these months, the P-3
Orion planes are generally not available for other uses.
NOAA
faces challenges in determining how to optimize the composition of
its fleet to obtain the right mix of heavy, light, and unmanned
aircraft systems for meeting mission needs. For example, NOAA’s two
operational P-3 Orion planes are in high demand for hurricane work.
At nearly 40 years of age, these aircraft are also the oldest planes
in the fleet. According to NOAA officials, the useful life expectancy
for the P-3 Orion aircraft will be another 15 years once re-winging
is completed in fiscal year 2017 as planned. However, even with the
re-winging, NOAA officials noted that the ongoing operation and
maintenance costs of these aircraft may increase. NOAA faces
decisions about whether to invest in additional costly service life
extensions or replace the two operational P-3 Orions and another
aging plane in its fleet, one of its de Havilland Twin Otter
aircraft.
The
P-3 purchase
NOAA
purchased a third P-3 Orion aircraft for approximately $9 million to
meet additional agency needs that NOAA officials said could not be
met with its two existing P-3 Orion planes. Subsequently, NOAA
learned that both of its existing P-3 Orion planes needed new wings
sooner than previously expected, and that the newly purchased plane
could not become operational without new wings. However, NOAA had not
anticipated or planned for these additional expenses and determined
that the investment in re-winging the newly acquired P-3 Orion plane
was not feasible, according to NOAA officials. The plane was
never put to use and NOAA is currently attempting to dispose of it.
Source:
Government Accountability Office
