Weather Flight keeps eyes on storm

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Washburn
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  When the rain begins to fall, the wind picks up, and it looks as though a tropical storm is bearing down on Yokota, the 374th Operational Support Squadron Weather Flight is working to make sure base residents are safe and sound.

"The main mission of the weather flight is to provide support to the 374th Airlift Wing and the other flying squadrons on base," said Maj. Brandee Harral, 374 OSS Weather Flight commander. "We also provide resource protection which helps out the various missions across the base and also base personnel."

They support pilots by providing real-time up-to-date weather information.

"Pilots need to know things like take-off weather and in-route weather, like if they're going to experience any thunder storms or tropical systems along the way," said Senior Airman Dimitreus Newell, 374 OSS Weather Flight weather forecaster. "Landing weather is important as well."

In order for the flight to brief pilots with timely information, they need accurate data. They achieve this by using a piece of equipment located at both ends of the flightline.

"We use what's called a FMQ-19 and it gives us automated weather information such as wind speed, altimeter settings, temperature and dew point," Newell said.

Equally important as keeping equipment safe is keeping personnel safe. To do this, the flight utilizes a Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness system to monitor storms that may affect the base.

"We use TCCOR because it provides a timeline for expected damaging winds," Harral said. "That gives leadership ample time to evacuate aircraft and to ensure the base populous has time to obtain emergency supplies."

This has been useful when informing team Yokota about recent storms like typhoon Wipha and Man-yi.

Through creating weather reports, briefing pilots, tracking storm systems and the myriad of other responsibilities, the weather flight stays busy. The job can be stressful and full of surprises, but it brings rewards.

"What I find to be the most rewarding is knowing that we play a vital role in helping pilots maintain their proficiency training as they often tailor their training around the weather forecasts we provide," Harral said.