Weather forecasters work around clock to ensure skies are safe, clear

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amanda Currier
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England (USAFENS) --  Some would say it all depends on the weather. This really is the case when it comes to planning flying missions.

The 100th Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight provides 100th Air Refueling Wing members with the weather information they need to plan and execute flying missions throughout Europe and into parts of Africa .

It not only serves the 100th ARW, but also 3rd Air Force, the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron and the Naval Air Facility, units here which also support flying missions throughout Europe .

Flying missions can be heavily affected by weather conditions such as wind, clouds, air pressure, ice, and thunderstorms, so each day the weather flight briefs aircrews on current and predicted future weather conditions.

“They’re awesome,” said Lt. Col. Michael Hady, KC-135R Instructor Pilot. “Every time you fly they put together a very detailed weather briefing for you, and you can also give them a call on the radio from the aircraft to get advice should you encounter bad weather.”

The briefings mainly cover the type of weather the aircrews can expect to encounter during takeoff, while en route and upon landing. As far as air-refueling missions go, rendezvous points are set up in predetermined airspace where tanker aircraft meet and refuel other aircraft. The information the weather flight provides air-refueling crews can help them determine which rendezvous points will best facilitate scheduled refueling missions for the day.

“On average, we brief between five and 10 aircrews a day,” said Capt. Deborah Danyluk, weather flight commander. “We don't just give them a briefing and say OK –– we are constantly watching the weather in case we need to update our forecast. No matter what time of day it is, someone is always watching.”

The weather flight divides each day into three eight-hour shifts, usually with one or two people manning the weather station at a time, a feat that was not possible until July when the weather flight moved into a new facility and got a video teleconferencing system, which allows them to brief aircrews from their office using real-time video.

“We used to brief all the aircrews in person, which often meant sending someone from our shop across base to meet with an aircrew,” said the captain. “Now we brief most of the crews via video teleconference, which allows us to have virtual face-to-face meetings with the aircrews. We can quickly and accurately answer their questions and show them satellite shots and weather charts without leaving our office. This allows us to operate with one person on the counter since we no longer have to send someone to out to give the briefings.”

“With the new video teleconference technology, the weather briefer stays near their information sources,” said Colonel Hady. When mission changes cause the crews to ask for additional information, they can more easily do their research and get us the right forecasts. The information they provide is usually dead on, and England is one of the toughest places to predict the weather. You really can't beat having a weather forecaster on station.”

Aside from providing information to aircrews, the weather flight also issues weather warnings and provides forecasts for RAF Mildenhall.

The weather flight works closely with the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Operational Weather Squadron, USAFE's main weather hub, located at Sembach Air Base, Germany , to compile its weather information.

“We are in constant communication with the operational weather squadron, which provides us with information on possible hazards like icing, thunderstorms and turbulence, said Captain Danyluk.

“They also give us weather charts, and warnings and watches for RAF Mildenhall. We take the information they provide us and compare with our own data. We use all available resources to make sure we give our customers the best information possible.”