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“Hurricane Hunter” visits PBIA

Science students, guests and members of the news media had a rare opportunity to go aboard the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) P-3 Orion “hurricane hunter” airplane during a stop at Palm Beach International Airport on May 4. Crew members conducted tours of the craft that flies into the eye of major tropical systems to help meteorologists determine its strength, direction and speed. PBIA was one of four stops around the country for the plane nicknamed Kermit. After the tours, a panel discussion with state and local emergency management officials and forecasters from the National Weather Service was held at the Emergency Operations Center.

Max Mayfield makes a point during a panel discussion at EOC	The crew of the P-3 Orion, nicknamed Kermit, visited four southeastern cities in five days
NOAA electrical technician Chuck Rasco	News media members prepare to go aboard
Craig Fugate, director of the State Emergency Response Team, chats with a reporter	NOAA pilot Mark Nelson explains what it's like flying into a storm

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