AIM Text
- General. Hurricane Hunters from the United States Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (WRS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) operate weather reconnaissance/research aircraft missions, in support of the National Hurricane Operations Plan (NHOP), to gather meteorological data on hurricanes and tropical cyclones. 53rd WRS and NOAA AOC aircraft normally conduct these missions in airspace identified in a published WRA Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
- WRAs. Airspace with defined dimensions and published by a NOTAM, which is established to support weather reconnaissance/research flights. ATC services are not provided within WRAs. Only participating weather reconnaissance/research aircraft from the 53rd WRS and NOAA AOC are permitted to operate within a WRA. A WRA may only be established in airspace within U. S. Flight Information Regions (FIR) outside of U. S. territorial airspace.
- A published WRA NOTAM describes the airspace dimensions of the WRA and the expected activities within the WRA. WRAs may border adjacent foreign FIRs, but are wholly contained within U.S. FIRs. As ATC services are not provided within a WRA, non-participating aircraft should avoid WRAs, and IFR aircraft should expect to be rerouted to avoid WRAs.
Source: FAA Aeronautical Information Manual · current edition · paragraph 3-5-9.
The short answer
This AIM section is FAA advisory guidance on Weather Reconnaissance Areas (WRAs): NOTAM-published airspace supporting hurricane and tropical-cyclone reconnaissance/research flights by the USAF Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and NOAA Aircraft Operations Center under the National Hurricane Operations Plan. ATC services are not provided within WRAs.
Research Notes
Common Questions
Who is allowed to operate inside a Weather Reconnaissance Area?
Only participating weather reconnaissance/research aircraft from the 53rd WRS and NOAA AOC are permitted to operate within a WRA. Because ATC services are not provided, non-participating aircraft should avoid WRAs, and IFR aircraft should expect to be rerouted to avoid them.
Where can a WRA be established?
A WRA may only be established in airspace within U.S. Flight Information Regions (FIR) outside of U.S. territorial airspace. WRAs may border adjacent foreign FIRs but are wholly contained within U.S. FIRs.
What mission do these flights support?
Hurricane Hunters from the USAF Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center fly these missions in support of the National Hurricane Operations Plan (NHOP) to gather meteorological data on hurricanes and tropical cyclones.