Hurricane Hunters: Improvements Needed in Operations, Planning, and Communication

Director Cardell Johnson and his team discuss the findings of a new
GAO report on Hurricane Hunter aircraft. 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Air
Force fly aircraft, known as Hurricane Hunters, into tropical cyclones
and winter storms. These aircraft collect critical data to help forecast
a storm's track and intensity--which can help with storm preparations and
evacuation efforts.
  NOAA and Air Force officials said that limited aircraft availability
and staffing shortages have contributed to Hurricane Hunters missing
mission requirements--the key tasks assigned to a mission. We are making
eight recommendations, including that NOAA and Air Force track data on
why mission requirements are missed, assess their Hurricane Hunter
workforces, and establish a mechanism for senior leaders to regularly
communicate about Hurricane Hunter plans and resources.
Related GAO Work: GAO-25-107210. Hurricane Hunter Aircraft: Improvements
Needed in Operations, Planning, and Communication