Photo By Darriel Swatts | Maj. Jeffery Johnson checks a TMQ-53 Weather Observation Station on top of a building...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - A pilot sits in his UH-60 Black Hawk on the airfield at Joint Base Balad and calls in for a preflight weather check. The Staff Weather Officer tells him there is a dust storm in route and there will be zero visibility at Camp Taji and that flying there is not recommended.
The pilot heeds the SWO’s warning and goes into a holding area until the weather clears; possibly saving not only his own life, but the lives of his crew and passengers.
Several Airmen from the California Air National Guard are deployed to Iraq to support the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade and other air and ground assets in the country.
“The Army needs to know what’s going on with the weather throughout its area of operations,” said Master Sgt. Hilario Flores, SWO for the 22nd Expeditionary Weather Squadron, Detachment Two, 163rd Reconnaissance Wing/210th Weather Flight out of March Air Reserve Base, Calif., which is currently deployed to Camp Taji and Joint Base Balad in support of Operation New Dawn. “If something pops up, we have to let them know immediately so they can adjust fire accordingly and go from there.”
The weather plays a big factor in all military operations, both in the air and on the ground. From when a mission starts to when it is finished, the weather may change two or more times. A change in the weather can make a smooth operation grind to a screeching halt in a matter of seconds.
“The weather here in Iraq can change drastically in an instant,” said Flores. “We always have to stay vigilant when we’re at our post and we’re always on our toes looking to ensure our forecasts stay accurate.”
The 22nd EWXS uses a vast array of ways to gather its information to be able to accurately forecast the weather.
“We use satellite imagery and live feeds, we have automated sensors out at different locations that gather information, we send people up to the roof every hour to physically look at and feel the weather; plus, we use intel that we get from soldiers out in the field, among other ways to gather our information to accurately forecast the weather,” said Maj. Jeffery Johnson, SWO officer in charge for the 22nd EWXS. “We by no means have a lack of intel to forecast the weather accurately up to four to seven days in advance.”
Along with accurate forecasting, the 22nd EWXS is efficient in letting the troops know what to expect and when to expect it when it comes to the weather.
“We brief the pilots before takeoff, during takeoff, when they’re in route and before they land on the most current, up-to-date weather conditions in their area,” said Master Sgt. Carlos Coronado, SWO non-commissioned officer in charge, 22nd EWXS. “We also brief the command on what is going on and what’s about to happen so they can disseminate it to the troops.”
The airmen of 22nd EWXS said they take pride in their mission: to provide accurate weather forecasts, visibility reports and temperature predictions to the pilots, commanders and to the everyday soldier on a daily and sometimes hourly basis.
| Date Taken: | 03.12.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.27.2011 13:17 |
| Story ID: | 67812 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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