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Senate Pushes for Major Upgrade to NOAA's Aging Hurricane Hunter Fleet

KVIA••CNN Newsource
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A bipartisan group of senators is advocating for a significant expansion of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Hurricane Hunter fleet, which currently consists of three aging aircraft. A proposed bill aims to allocate $2.5 billion for new aircraft and $45 million annually for hiring specialized pilots. This initiative is crucial as NOAA's current planes, some over 50 years old, are facing mechanical issues that jeopardize hurricane forecasting accuracy. The legislation also seeks to ensure that NOAA maintains a manned fleet, preventing a shift to drone operations that may compromise data quality. With extreme weather events on the rise, this funding is essential for improving preparedness and response efforts.

Key Details: • Proposed bill to provide NOAA with $2.5 billion for new aircraft. • Annual funding of $45 million for hiring specialized pilots. • Current Hurricane Hunter fleet includes two WP-3D Orions and one Gulfstream jet. • Legislation aims to increase fleet size from three to a minimum of six and a maximum of nine planes. • Bill emphasizes the need for manned aircraft over potential drone alternatives.

weather senate bipartisan noaa hurricane

People & Organizations

Ted CruzNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationMaria CantwellDepartment of Government EfficiencyLisa Blunt Rochester

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