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Fairchild weather flight provides crucial support

Air Mobility Command News

Release Date: 5/09/2003

By 2nd Lt. Rebecca Garcia 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AMCNS) -- The grass is noticeably worn from weather observers walking a path to and from the flight line every hour, sometimes more.

They have an around-the-clock mission; their shop never closes, and if it did, it would be noticed.

No matter the day's weather, information about it is crucial to flying missions.

The 92nd Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight is responsible for gathering that information here.

The weather flight's mission is to enhance planning and execution of military operations for Fairchild AFB missions through optimal interaction of timely and accurate weather information - all done with a smile and a sprinkling of good humor.

The flight supports all local flying operations at Fairchild, including the 336th Training Group, 36th Rescue Flight operations and parachuting, and the 141st Air National Guard.

The weather flight briefs relevant weather information to aircrews and other groups. They are also responsible for briefing wing leaders. This can create high-pressure situations, according to Capt. Doug Brunell, 92nd OSS staff weather officer. "No one wants an un-funny weatherman," said the captain.

The weather specialist is in a unique position to lighten things up, and for the most part it's expected. Captain Brunell said when he was stationed in Alaska, he would include a five-day forecast for Barbados, Mercury and the surface of the sun.

"The services provided by the weather flight here are indispensable, especially when you begin to combine our high-priority missions with the sometimes rapidly changing weather we see here - especially during the winter and early spring months," said Lt. Col. Martha Meeker, 92nd Operations Group deputy commander.

"What we want to know is 'what's the forecast and when will there be a break to launch or recover aircraft.' While there's several automated sources out there, there's no substitute for an experienced weather forecaster who can assess the situation and give us a best estimate based on knowledge and experience. They're a valued and indispensable member of the ops team."

Everyone in the weather flight is a forecaster and an observer, said Tim Scheidt, 92nd OSS weather forecaster/observer. He said making weather observations entails walking outside to the airfield at least once an hour and checking certain aspects of the weather, including visibility. Additionally, wind, temperature and cloud ceiling measurements are taken from instruments on both sides of the flight line.

The observers/forecasters give inputs to a weather hub at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. The hub is responsible for an area covering Alaska to Mexico and the Pacific coast to west of the Rockies. Using the weather flight inputs, the hub creates a forecast specific to individual areas. Aircrews can then call into the weather flight and ask for weather updates on their track.

"Without weather [support] you're risking planes and pilots in excess of hundreds of millions of dollars," said Captain Brunell. "Aircrews fly every day based on what weather tells them. It's a tremendous amount of responsibility."

Reliance on weather information for air operations can be stressful for members of the weather flight. An airman just out of technical school, maybe only 18 years old, can ground an aircraft based on his observations. That same airman can have commanders calling him directly, asking if they're positive the aircraft can't take off.

"The toughest days are when weather is really bad," said Airman 1st Class Theo Ludovissie, 92nd OSS forecaster/observer. "You have to brief, coordinate weather and take more observations than usual. It can be pretty stressful."

There are three major duty areas within the Weather Flight: airfield services, mission services and climatology. Airfield services involves forecasting, taking observations, and posting weather advisories and warnings. Mission services are responsible for tracking missions and briefing aircrews. And climatology keeps track of all weather at Fairchild for the past 30 years.

Weather forecasters/observers don't have a choice of staying inside when the weather is bad. Whether it's heavy rain, wind, sleet or snow, the Weather Flight is walking the path out to the flight line every hour, observing and watching, and making sure Fairchild assets are safe.