Weather, or not?

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Cammie Quinn
  • 35th Fighter Wing, Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  When bad weather strikes at Misawa Air Base, all eyes are on one flight, which takes the spotlight by alerting personnel and families to prepare, protect and plan for changing conditions.

The 35th Operations Support Squadron weather flight provides accurate and timely mission-focused weather support and resource protection for the 35th Fighter Wing and the Misawa AB community.

"We provide briefings for transient aircrew missions, weather operations familiarization briefings for newly assigned pilots, pre-deployment mission planning briefings, quarterly climatology briefings, safety briefings and typhoon briefings, just to name a few," said Dave Driskell, 35th OSW, officer in charge.

The briefings allow personnel to become familiar with, and adapt their mission to, weather conditions.

When it comes to flying, pre-briefings aren't the end of the story for the weather flight.

"During the flying period, we are in constant contact with pilots, briefing them on the latest current and forecast weather conditions at Misawa at in the flying areas," he added.

Climate conditions are of the top priority to the flying community, and up-to-the-minute changes are imperative to mission success.

Pilots must have specific weather conditions to operate, said Driskell.

"If cloud ceilings and surface visibility are too low, the aircraft might not be allowed to take off or land. Strong winds can also prohibit aircraft from landing and taking off, as can heavy snow," he added.

One sergeant said the biggest challenge occurs during a climatic change, and must be communicated to those who need the information most.

"Trying to get the most accurate weather to everyone, in time, can be difficult," said Tech. Sgt. Joshua Rapp, 35 OSW, weather technician. "I'll provide the weather (to a pilot,) and five minutes later it will change and a new, updated forecast is distributed."

And update they do. Several forecasts are produced and used by most base organizations in support of mission operations.

"The flying forecast is referred to as the 'Mission Execution Forecast,' used by the 35 FW pilots to plan and execute their flying mission. It is updated several times throughout the flying day," Driskell said.

Crews refer to a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast when flying into or out of Misawa Air Base, which the 35 OSW distributes every eight hours in collaboration with the 17th OSW located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, he added.

"The forecast that you see on the weather channel is what we refer to as 'plain-language' extended forecast and is intended for uses by the general public," said Driskell.