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Show 14 Hilltop Times MISSION July 21, 1989, P irddkifDinig ' , - I- ''. - ''-III- i:l ' , , " : I U: ' 4, " viv . i.t:'r7'Vr-- -- l ' ' It's more than glancing skyward and sticking a wet finger in the wind by Debbie Christiansen Hilltop Times staff writer more to forecasting the weather IT"phere's M than just throwing darts at a dartboard to U make a guess. Detachment 6, 17th Weather Squadron, uses sophisticated equipment to provide support to not only all the organizations at Hill AFB, but also to National Guard and Air Force Reserve forces located throughout Utah, the U.S. Army, Military Airlift Command, Strategic Air Command and the Utah Test and Training Range. The detachment has the only, weather radar in the state, and as a result, the information is transmitted via remote display to such statewide locations as the Salt Lake International Airport, Edwards AFB, Calif, and Offutt AFB, Neb. The Salt Lake City television stations also use the radar information, Maj. Thomas Schott, Det. 6, 17th WS commander, said. "People rely on us pretty heavily," Major Schott said. On the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Det. 6 members contribute to base resource protection and conduct pilot briefings as part of their mission. The 17th Weather Squadron is stationed at Travis AFB, Calif, and is a MAC unit. Major Schott said information he has seen indicates Det. 6 is the busiest detachment in the 17th Weather Squadron. "The two tactical fighter wings here keep us really busy," he said. The weather office is divided into two sections: the forecasters section and the observers section. Different equipment is used in each area. In the forecasters section, a Z100 based computer is hooked up to locations on base. Another computer is hooked up to Carswell AFB, Texas, and it can get weather information from anywhere in the world, Major Schott said. f.;. A ' 1 a. The satellite equipment used in the detachment has the capability to make hard copies and they are hoping to update the equipment in four or five months. A lightning detector and various maps are used in the office to issue weather advisories. The observers section is designed to allow the observer on duty to monitor the weather and watch for specific criteria. "If the weather is too bad, wing commanders ground the aircraft," Major Schott said. "Much of the equipment in the observers section dates from the early '50s and is scheduled to be replaced over the next five years with equipment. It will be more equipment than we've ever had in the past," he said. state-of-the-a- rt 'I ! I y .r i 1 ' "'f:i. v- ' L,. urn mil- ' -.. . "n ' ' '1 I'f I x jjfiiiftM ' - - ' '' S " v' ff. ' ' - ' ' (ri? ' ' I ' ' tf'i? IjL ' ' ' ' ..' 4.1- ''f'J' U.S. Air Force Photo by Michael Thompson Weather or not MSgt. Hal Stepp, a forecaster in Detachment 6, 17th Weather Squadron, checks one of the many maps he uses in his job. The weather in Utah provides a variety of conditions. In the winter, storms can cause havoc with flight operations while summer is generally quiet. Winds are often a problem. Winds out of Weber Canyon can reach more than 75 miles an hour, he said. Though conditions in Utah are not right for tornadoes as severe as the ones which can occur in the Midwest, they can happen. In May, there were five funnel clouds spotted on the same day. "That was an interesting day," Major Schott said. "We were right in the middle of a staff assistance visit and we got to activate our severe weather management team." V There are several projects scheduled for the future at the detachment, he said. A TV monitor ing system which will better enable them to observe the weather conditions to the south is in the works and a weather information distribution system will be on line sometime next year. The distribution system will disseminate weather radar satellite and lightning detection images over the local area network, Major Schott said. Det. 6 is trying to be the first in the Air Force to have the system. One project almost completed is the inclusion of arrival and departure corridors on the remote weather radar display, he said. They are also in the process of converting to voice mail to replace the automated answering service in use now. For a recorded weather forecast, phone Ext. -- 72643. This line is for non-operation- al use. |