Hot Items 2003NSSL earns FAA Excellence Award
NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Okla., recently received the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Excellence in Aviation Award for 2002. The NSSL was cited for its contribution to the FAA's Aviation Weather Research Program, which was organized to generate more accurate and accessible aviation weather bservations, warnings and forecasts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency of the Commerce Department.
"The safety of airline passengers, in part, depends on accurate, timely weather forecasts," said James Kimpel, NSSL Director. "Therefore, our research partnership with the FAA is one of our important programs."
Don Burgess, chief of NSSL's Warning Research and Development Division, said NSSL "appreciates this recognition from the FAA. Our role at NSSL is to develop better ways to use NEXRAD weather radar data in aviation safety products and displays."
The Excellence in Aviation designation is a highly competitive, non-monetary award presented each year to individuals and/or institutions that show how their past research benefits the aviation community today. Through this award, the FAA formally recognizes significant accomplishments as a result of aviation-related research efforts. This special distinction gives the agency an opportunity to recognize superior research efforts and to highlight the benefits of such activities.
"Inclement weather is responsible for 69 percent of flight delays and approximately 30 percent of fatal accidents," said Charlie Keegan, FAA's associate administrator for Research and Acquisitions. "The laboratories supporting our weather research program are providing critical safety enhancements by developing tools to generate more accurate and accessible weather observations, warnings and forecasts."
Other recipients of the 2002 Excellence in Aviation Award include: NOAA's Forecast Systems Laboratory, Aviation Weather Center and National Centers for Environmental Prediction; University of Oklahoma; the National Center for Atmospheric Research; Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Lincoln Laboratories; Naval Research Laboratory; University of Quebec at Montreal; University of Alaska Fairbanks; and San Jose State University.
NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory leads the way in investigations of all aspects of severe and hazardous weather. NSSL is part of NOAA Research and the only federally-supported laboratory focused on severe weather. The Lab's scientists and staff explore new ways to improve understanding of the causes of severe weather and ways to use weather information to assist National Weather Service forecasters, as well as other federal, university and private sector partners. NSSL was established in 1964 and has additional staff in Colorado, Nevada, Washington and Wisconsin.
1/13/2003