By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The arrival on Wednesday at Juan Santamaría
International airport*, of a
Hercules WC-130 plane, known as a
"hurricane hunter,” property of
the Air Force Reserve Command,
will allow students and educators
from the province of Alajuela* to
learn how scientists collect data
on hurricanes.
The WC-130 provides vital tropical
cyclone forecasting information
and is the primary weather data
collector for the U.S. National
Hurricane Center, supplemented by
the U.S. National Oceanographic
and Atmospheric Administration's
WP-3D Orion.
They penetrate tropical cyclones
and hurricanes at altitudes
ranging from 500 to 10,000 feet
(150 to 3,050 m) above the ocean
surface depending on the intensity
of the storm.
The most important function of
these reconnaissance aircraft is
collecting high-density,
high-accuracy weather data from
within the storm's environment.
This includes penetration of the
center or hurricane eye of the
storm. This vital information is
instantly relayed by satellite to
the National Hurricane Center to
aid in the accurate forecasting of
hurricane movement and intensity.
The "Hurricane C-130" that arrives
is sponsored by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).
Juan Carlos Fallas, general
director of the National
Meteorological Institute of Costa
Rica, said that the information
shared by the National Hurricane
Center in Miami, is useful for the
meteorological service and helps
the country take the necessary
prevention measures, according to
the protocols of the Hurricane
Committee of the Region (composed
of the countries of North America,
Central America, and the
Caribbean).
According to Fallas, for students
access to the ‘hurricane house’
creates awareness about the
importance of education of the
most vulnerable populations about
tropical hurricanes, because "we
are in an era of greater cyclonic
activity and in a region that
suffers the ravages of these
phenomena every year."
Also, a Lockheed P3 aircraft used
both for hurricane forecasting and
for research has arrived
yesterday. The Lockheed P-3 Orion
is a four-engine turboprop
anti-submarine and maritime
surveillance aircraft developed
for the United States Navy and
introduced in the 1960s.
Alexander Solis, president of the
National Commission, said that the
arrival of these aircraft in the
country shows the close
technical-scientific relationship
that exists between the Miami
Hurricane Center and the National
Meteorological Institute.
These two aircraft come from
Mexico, where they began the 2019
tour that includes presentations
in the Islands of Curacao and
Puerto Rico.
Related to U.S. Air Force
equipment arrivals, as A.M. Costa
Rica reported yesterday, the
four UH-1rst (or UH-ONE)
helicopters, that will be
donated to Costa Rica, are part of
the Specialized Air Training
Program that will be directed to
personnel of the Air Surveillance
Service.
The helicopters are, for a period
of two years, in the charge of
U.S. government, with the
maintenance, spare parts purchase,
and training of pilots and
technicians in aeronautical
maintenance of the Direction of
the Air Surveillance Service of
the Ministry of Public Security.
During this period, the government
of Costa Rica, through the Air
Surveillance Service, will assume
the fuel costs.
In 2021
the helicopters will become the
property of the government of
Costa Rica, specifically under
the Ministry of Public Security.
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At the helicopters
display were President
Carlos Alvarado, the
Minister of Public
Security, Michael
Soto, the director of
the Air Surveillance
Service, Juan Luis
Vargas, the ambassador
of the United States
in Costa Rica, Ms.
Sharon Day, the
Secretary of the
Bureau of
International
Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs,
Richard Glenn, and the
INL representative in
Costa Rica,
Christopher Harris.
"A few years ago it
was not possible to
have new helicopters
available to the
country for security
work, today we show
that it is possible,"
said President Carlos
Alvarado. "These are
the helicopters with
which, together with
the government of the
United States, we will
carry out the Aerial
Training Program
directed to the Air
Surveillance Service,
which will serve for
emergency assistance,
humanitarian aid,
transportation of
equipment and patrols.
"
The helicopters and
training for the Costa
Rican pilots are part
of the Aerial Training
Program of the U.S.
Bureau of
International
Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs,
which has been in
partnership with Costa
Rica for ten years.
U. S. Ambassador, Ms
Sharon Day, said that
this program is just
one of the dozens of
initiatives with which
the U.S. government
collaborates with
Costa Rica on aspects
of citizen security
and strengthening the
rule of law.
"Our
assistance began
long before the
arrival of these
helicopters and will
continue long after
the end of the
two-year period,"
said Ambassador Day.
"We are not bringing
these four
helicopters to Costa
Rica to wish them
good luck with them.
This is a holistic
program, focused on
taking the
logistics,
maintenance, and
administration to
the next level that
will support the
long-term success of
the SVA."
Mr.
Richard H. Glenn,
Deputy Secretary
of INL, said that
the U.S. continues
to invest in the
security services
of Costa Rica
because the
country is a
proven ally. "Year
after year we see
the effectiveness
with which they
use the tools and
training that we
help provide.
Costa Rica shares
with the U. S. the
will and the sense
of collective
mission to face
regional
problems."
On March 10, the
four UH-1st
helicopters arrived
in the country
aboard a Boeing C-17
Globemaster, and
will be used in
emergency care,
humanitarian aid,
transport of
equipment and
personnel to remote
areas, preventive
patrols and in
maritime and air
surveillance. The
aircraft will also
be integral tools in
the fight against
drug trafficking.
The total value of
this UH-1st project
is $48 million
dollars and includes
the four
helicopters, their
reconditioning,
maintenance, spare
parts and training
for members of the
Air Surveillance
Service.
A UH-1st has a
capacity for 13
people (three crew,
10 passengers), two
engines, reaches a
maximum speed of 205
kilometers per hour,
have a load capacity
of 7,306 pounds,
with a coverage
range of 182
nautical miles.
The Bell UH-1st
(nicknamed the
"Huey") is the first
type of helicopter
developed by Bell
Helicopter Company
produced for the
United States
military, and more
than 16,000 have
been built since
1960. More
information on the
new UH Helicopters
can be reached at: bellflight.com
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Have
you ever seen a
Hercules WC-130 or
Lockheed P-3
Orion? We would
like to know your
thoughts on this
story. Send your
comments to: news@amcostarica.com
*Link
to reach the place
map.
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