Weather flight receives JET, streamlines data collection

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brigitte N. Brantley-Sisk
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Although most career fields have a far-reaching effect, there is one responsible for monitoring something that can be unpredictable, interrupting air and ground operations.

The 23rd Operations Support Squadron weather flight is responsible for calling the shots during all types of weather, whether it's sunny, windy, rainy or all of these.

Now, with the help of the Joint Environmental Toolkit, this job can be accomplished more efficiently.

"The JET is what we use to disseminate all our products and monitor our weather sensors from anywhere," said Tech. Sgt. David Tischhauser, 23rd OSS airfield services NCO in charge. "We have many different things to monitor, including wind, visibility, clouds, temperature and pressure lightning. This system makes monitoring all of that so much easier."

The process is easier because the advanced technology it provides means extra time for the weather technicians to concentrate on other work.

"Before we had the JET, we spent a lot more time retrieving data from the separate sensors outside and inputting it into our system," said Staff Sgt. Kevin Vandersys, 23rd OSS weather technician. "Now, the JET automatically reads the data for us and sends the updates for us. Although we do have to monitor and assist it, it has definitely made life easier."

The technicians also save time since they are no longer fielding calls from other base agencies that require the data.

"Other agencies that also use our data to direct their operations include security forces, the fire department and the command post," said Sergeant Tischhauser. "Now that the JET is a server-based system, they can log on and see the information without having to get in touch with us. Before this, we had to manually go to each computer that would be used to look at the data and download software."

To augment this data, the 11-man shop still completes regular weather checks throughout the day. They operate whenever the airfield is open.

"Having updates is important because we are also responsible for briefing whoever is flying," said Sergeant Tischhauser. "If we have a forecast that bad weather is already present or on the way, we will make the call to divert certain aircraft or cut short or cancel a mission.

"Having aircraft fly only in safe weather provides the potential of a safer flight and possible lives saved," he added.

Another situation in which they would assist with safety is when the possibility of a hurricane nears.

"During hurricane conditions, we do more than just our normal monitoring of the weather," said Sergeant Tischhauser. "We're involved in the whole process and the wing commander listens to our judgment when making the call to evacuate or not."

The ability to make this judgment comes from an eight-month technical training course, which is followed by about two years of on-the-job training at an operational weather squadron.