This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

They cannot be accomplished without the penetration of the aircraft to the center of the storm. The Navy procedure for flying in hurricanes specifies that the penetration will not be made in the event that the eye of the storm is less than 15 miies in diameter and/or the surface wind speeds higher than 120 knots. These are safety of flight restrictions which were a key factor in a storm of this magnitude. It seems that the Navy’s capability to penetrate the storm and acquisition of the required data would be enhanced with more suitable aircraft. It is established that the Air Force radar is not optimum for the job at hand although there is no assurance that installation of a different radar would not change the operating characteristics of the aircraft.
The ESSA Research Flight Facility suffers from a number of the deficiencies currently recognized in the Navy aircraft fleet. The observational equipment package aboard the Research Flight Facility is outdated. The aircraft platforms are roughly of the same vintage as those operated by the Navy and are overdue for replacement by modern aircraft. The Research Flight Facility is not, however, operationally restricted to flying into hurricanes. Because of aircraft and equipment limitations currently experienced by the Air Force and the Navy, the operational mission of the Research Flight Facility should continue to provide support to the hurricane reconnaissance program. This should cover at least the period of time required to modernize the Department of Defense equipment currently in use. It would permit a larger choice of equipment at times when penetration might not otherwise be possible.
A standardized instrument package for the use of both the operational and R&D type reconnaissance should be developed. This would require considerable coordination among the three services both in the coordination and the development of requirements. It would enhance the use of data for research purposes collected by different aircraft.
Finally, it is noted that the Navy reconnaissance operations are conducted at 1500 feet or less above sea level. This stems from a Navy requirement for data and it is noted that penetrations at this level are not a requirement of the National Hurricane Center. National Hur-
ricane Center requirements can be met by penetrations at any level.
It is recommended that the Director of the National Hurricane Center specify the details of his requirements for altitude of hurricane penetrations, and these be included in the Plan of the Day.
It is further recommended that action be undertaken leading to improvement in the aircraft and sensory equipment used in aerial reconnaissance*
F.	Communications
Five major communications networks provide service for data collection from the array of ESSA observation stations:
a)	Service C Teletypewriter Network comprising six circuits operated by the FAA, collects and distributes most of the United States synoptic surface and upper-air data as well as basic public forecasts. It also carries similar data from parts of Canada and Mexico.
b)	Service A Teletypewriter Network has 60 circuits operated by the FAA and collects and distributes hourly surface observations. It is primarily an aviation system and carries products of the Aviation Weather Service. In addition to U.S. civilian stations, this system also carries data from U. S. military stations and reports from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
c)	Service O Teletypewriter Network has 23 long line, radio and cable circuits operated by the FAA, and exchanges meteorological information between the United States and foreign countries. Most of the synoptic surface and upper-air data from the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America is carried on this system.
d)	RAW ARC (Radar Report and Warning Coordination) Teletypewriter Network employs five 75-word-per-minute circuits operated by ESSA Weather Bureau. It collects and distributes radar reports and storm warning information. Observations from the Cooperative Hurricane Reporting Network (CHURN) may be carried on this system.
e)	East Coast Circuit (7072), operated by
*A special analysis of hurricane reconnaissance needs is being- undertaken by the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and separate recommendations on this phase of the hurricane tracking problem will be made.
19