Photo By Senior Airman Brett Clashman | Marina Karaseva (left), and Capt. Julia Coppola share a laugh at the Transit Center at...... read more read more
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan - Today it will be partly cloudy with highs in the low 60s. Tomorrow we're looking at high pressure moving in and warming things up a bit with high temperatures reaching the high 60s, low 70s.
The weather forecast - a critical piece of information affecting everyone. From deciding whether it is time to break out the extra layer of clothing to ensuring mission-critical operations can be performed in a timely and accurate manner, this data assessment allows Transit Center personnel to continually meet their mission objectives.
Providing real-time operational support to the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and 817 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron is the main focus of the weather team here, said Capt. Julia Coppola, 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron weather flight officer in charge.
"We partner with the 28th Operational Weather Squadron at U.S. Air Forces Central (Shaw) for Transit Center resource protection by providing an 'eyes forward' capability to issue forecasts, weather watches, warnings and advisories. That capability, along with a partnership with our host nation counterparts, Kyrgyzaeronavigatsia, allows weather personnel to provide support to airfield operations here," Coppola said.
The mission execution forecasts and meteorological observations directly impact our flying squadrons and allow them to support the international efforts in Afghanistan, she said.
"The forecasts enable planners and crews to adjust fuel loads or routes to mitigate weather impacts on air tasking order missions. Our local weather watches, warnings and advisories warn Transit Center personnel of weather that may be harmful to people or equipment, ensuring those personnel here can complete their ground-based missions," Coppola said.
Additionally, daily, shared operations with their Kyrgyz Republic colleagues have laid the foundation for a strong partnership and interoperability.
KAN weather provides official weather observation capability for the runway and determines whether the runway remains open or closes, Coppola said. The team must work closely with KAN to ensure the runway stays open, if possible, to launch our aircraft.
Identifying the need to share information, the 376 EOSS Weather Flight granted their KAN peers access to Air Force weather systems, such as the Air Force Weather Agency's AFW-WEBS and the 28 OWS' webpage.
"This information exchange enables KAN weather specialists to retrieve satellite, radar, lightning feeds and weather model data to gain a better picture of the current and predicted meteorological situation," Coppola said when explaining how closely the two teams work.
"[KAN] also provides [the 376 EOSS weather flight] a feed from the weather sensors on the runway, which furnishes Runway Visual Range information necessary for takeoffs and landings when visibility is reduced to below 1600 meters," she said. "The team work doesn't stop just at practical informational exchanges, both teams hold weekly meetings to review and discuss meteorological data and any key elements to anticipated weather."
"This is a complete partnership," said Lt. Col. James Donelson, 376 EOSS commander. "This combined teamwork speaks volumes of both our airmen and the Kyrgyz Republic partners, their dedication and continued focus on providing the best possible product to both Transit Center leaders and Manas International Airport managers."
| Date Taken: | 10.09.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 10.11.2012 07:25 |
| Story ID: | 95976 |
| Location: | KG |
| Hometown: | LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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