New Air-Launched Hurricane Drones Are Close to Operational

Hurricane Hunters are performing final tests on remote controlled drones that fly through the most dangerous parts of hurricanes.

Thom Patterson

Friday, June 03, 2022 at 01:11 PM ET

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NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter fleet includes two Lockheed WP-3D Orion turboprops. [Credit: NOAA]

Key Takeaways:

NOAA Hurricane Hunters are completing tests for Altius, a new three-foot-long remote-controlled drone designed to fly into the most active, lower altitudes of hurricanes.
Launched from NOAA's WP-3D Orion aircraft, these drones will gather continuous weather data for 1-3 hours, allowing manned aircraft to operate at safer, higher altitudes.
The Altius drones are expected to significantly advance understanding of how storms form and intensify by providing comprehensive, real-time data, augmenting existing dropsonde technology.
Testing is nearly complete, and the first operational Altius drones are anticipated to be deployed into storms very soon, enhancing hurricane forecasting and preparedness.

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Hurricane Hunter pilots with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are nearly finished testing a new remote-controlled aircraft that may help them avoid dangerous flight conditions.

It’s an approximately three-foot-long drone called Altius. These small, fixed-wing drones are launched from NOAA’s Lockheed WP-3D Orion twin turboprops and are designed to fly into the most active parts of a hurricane at lower altitudes and remain aloft for one to three hours. The drones then send precious weather data back to the Orion, which would be flying at altitudes around 8,000 to 10,000 feet.