New legislation introduced by a bipartisan group of senators strives to add new aircraft to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hurricane Hunter fleet and codify the agency’s role in meteorological research.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the ranking member, as well as six other senators from both sides of the aisle.
NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter Fleet consists of two WP-3D Orion four-engine aircraft, dubbed “Kermit” and “Miss Piggy,” and one Gulfstream IV-SP aircraft, which fly directly into hurricanes to collect data and help forecasters understand storm processes and improve forecasting.
Kermit and Miss Piggy spend 8-10 hours cutting in and out of hurricanes as scientists investigate wind, pressure, humidity, and temperature changes as they descend toward the ocean to get a real-time look at storms. The pair of P-3 aircraft’s service will expire in 2030.
The G-IV, also known as “Gonzo,” similarly paints a detailed picture of weather in the upper atmosphere and has flown around nearly every Atlantic-based hurricane that has threatened the United States since 1997. Each mission covers thousands of miles surrounding hurricanes as researchers aboard map the movement of storms.
The age of Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo has led to problems with the aircraft as they undergo significant wear and tear when they fly into severe weather.
Senators on the commerce committee are pushing legislation to grant NOAA $2.5 billion for new aircraft and an additional $5 million per year to hire uniquely qualified pilots to fly them.
If passed, the bill could formalize NOAA’s role in forecasting and reconnaissance into law, which could help protect its Hurricane Hunter fleet from having its responsibilities absorbed by another agency, such as the Air Force.
The Air Force also conducts missions going into hurricanes, but its aircraft lack the fine-tuned equipment used by NOAA.
Additionally, the proposed funding would enable NOAA to acquire cutting-edge equipment, including tail-mounted Doppler radars used to scan storms horizontally and vertically, to better understand storm processes.
NOAA has congressional authorization to triple its fleet to six aircraft, but Congress has not included budget provisions for such an increase. The new bill would direct the agency to increase its fleet to nine aircraft, create a pathway for funding, and require new planes to be “manned,” ruling out a possible drone replacement.
The Trump administration’s most recent budget request would slash NOAA’s research department, which could significantly harm efforts to improve hurricane forecasts. The request is likely to receive pushback from Congress, especially as hurricane season ramps up in the Atlantic region.
The Washington Examiner reached out to members of the Senate commerce committee for comment.