Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) is a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which operates a wide variety of specialized ships and aircraft to carry out the environmental and scientific missions of NOAA.
Administration
NOAA′s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) operates NOAA′s aircraft and ships. OMAO also manages the NOAA Small Boat Program and the NOAA Diving Program, the latter having as part of its mission the job of ensuring a level of diving skill conducive to safe and efficient operations in NOAA-sponsored underwater activities.[1]
A
Manning and resource management
NOAA's aircraft and ships are operated and managed by a combination of NOAA Corps officers, NOAA civilians, and wage marine employees. NOAA Corps officers and OMAO civilians frequently serve as chief scientists on program missions. Aboard NOAA ships, NOAA Corps officers perform administrative duties and are responsible for the navigation of the vessels, while NOAA civilians and wage marine employees serve as licensed engineers, mechanics, navigators, technicians, and members of the engine, steward, and deck departments. Aboard both aircraft and ships, NOAA Corps officers and civilian crew members provide mission support and assistance to embarked scientists from various NOAA laboratories and the academic community.
To complement NOAA's aircraft and ship fleets, OMAO contracts for ship and aircraft time with other sources, such as the private sector and universities.
Aircraft
Aircraft operations
NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) is home to NOAA's fleet of aircraft. It has been located at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida, since June 2017. Prior to its move to Lakeland, the AOC resided at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, from January 1993 to June 2017.[2]
NOAA aircraft often operate over open ocean, mountains, coastal wetlands, Arctic pack ice, and in and around
NOAA research aircraft types operated
Present
Aircraft | Number in service | Registration # | Introduced |
---|---|---|---|
Beechcraft Super King Air 350CER | 3 | N67RF, N68RF, N65RF | 2009 |
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | 4 | N46RF, N48RF, N56RF, N57RF | 1994 |
Gulfstream IV-SP | 1 | N49RF | 2022 |
Lockheed WP-3D Orion | 2 | N42RF, N43RF | 1976 |
NOAA also operates unmanned aerial vehicles.[3]
Past
Aircraft [4] | Number in service | Purchasing Agency | Introduced | Retired |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boeing WB-50A Superfortress | 2 | NHRL | 1956 | 1958 |
Boeing WB-47E Stratojet | 1 | NHRL | 1956 | 1960 |
Douglas DC-6B | 2 | NHRL | 1960 | 1975 |
Douglas WB-26 Invader | 1 | NHRL | 1961 | 1965 |
Martin WB-57A Canberra | 1 | NHRL | 1960 | 1971 |
Douglas WC-54D Skymaster | 1 | NHRL | 1961 | 1965 |
Lockheed WC-130B | 1 | NHRL | 1970 | 1981 |
Aero Commander 500
|
2 | NOAA | ? | ? |
Lake Renegade | ? | NOAA | ? | ? |
Cessna Citation II | ? | NOAA | ? | ? |
Bell 212 | ? | NOAA | ? | ? |
Gulfstream Turbo Commander 695A
|
1 | NOAA | 2004 |
Ships
Fleet origins
NOAA's ship fleet traces it ancestry to the fleets of the Survey of the Coast and of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, widely referred to as the
The NOAA fleet was created when various
Ship operations
The NOAA fleet provides hydrographic survey,
NOAA research and survey vessels
Upon its creation on 3 October 1970, NOAA took control of all ships previously operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. NOAA has since
The names of NOAA ships are preceded by the prefix "NOAAS" (for "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ship") and followed by a unique hull classification symbol, or "hull number," made up of a letter indicating whether the vessel is a research ship (R) or survey ship (S), followed by a three-digit number. Each hull classification symbol is unique among NOAA ships currently in commission, although in some cases NOAA uses a hull classification symbol identical to one it used previously for a ship that it has since decommissioned.
Present Fleet
Fisheries research ships
- NOAAS Bell M. Shimada (R 227) (in service 2010–present)
- RV Gloria Michelle (in noncommissioned service 1980–present)
- NOAAS Gordon Gunter (R 336)[6] (in service 1998–present; previously with U.S. Navy as USNS Relentless (T-AGOS-18) 1990–1993)
- NOAAS Henry B. Bigelow (R 225) (in service 2007–present)
- NOAAS Oregon II (R 332)[7] (in service 1977–present)
- NOAAS Oscar Dyson (R 224) (in service 2005–present)
- NOAAS Oscar Elton Sette (R 335)[8] (in service 2003–present; previously with U.S. Navy as USNS Adventurous (T-AGOS-13) 1988–1992)
- NOAAS Pisces (R 226)[9] (in service 2009–present)
- NOAAS Reuben Lasker (R 228) (in service 2014–present)
- NOAAS Ronald H. Brown (R 104) (in service 1997–present)
Gallery - fisheries research ships
-
NOAAS Bell M. Shimada (R 227)
-
RV Gloria Michelle
-
NOAAS Gordon Gunter (R 336)
-
NOAAS Henry B. Bigelow (R 225)
-
NOAAS Oregon II (R 332)
-
NOAAS Oscar Dyson (R 224)
-
NOAAS Oscar Elton Sette (R 335)
-
NOAAS Pisces (R 226)
-
NOAAS Reuben Lasker (R 228)
-
NOAAS Ronald H. Brown (R 104)
Hydrographic/oceanographic/atmospheric research ships
- RV Bay Hydro II (in noncommissioned service 2009–present)
- RV Manta(in noncommissioned service 2008–present)
- NOAAS Fairweather (S 220) (in service 1970–1989 and 2004–present; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1968–1970)
- NOAAS Ferdinand R. Hassler (S 250) (in service 2012–present)
- NOAAS Hi'ialakai (R 334) (in service 2004–present; previously with U.S. Navy as USNS Vindicator (T-AGOS-3) 1984–1993 and with U.S. Coast Guard as USCGC Vindicator (WMEC-3) 1994–2001)
- NOAAS Nancy Foster (R 352) (in service 2004–present; previously with U.S. Navy as USS Agate Pass (YT-112) 1991–1999)
- NOAAS Okeanos Explorer (R 337) (in service 2008–present; previously with U.S. Navy as USNS Capable (T-AGOS-16) 1989–2004)
- NOAAS Rainier (S 221) (in service 1970–present; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1968–1970)
- NOAAS Ronald H. Brown (R 104) (in service 1997–present)
- NOAAS Thomas Jefferson (S 222) (in service 2003–present; previously with U.S. Navy as USNS Littlehales (T-AGS-52) 1992–2003)
Gallery - hydrographic/oceanographic/atmospheric research ships
-
RV Bay Hydro II (S 5401)
-
NOAAS Fairweather (S 220)
-
NOAAS Ferdinand R. Hassler (S 250)
-
NOAAS Hi'ialakai (R 334)
-
NOAAS Nancy Foster (R 352)
-
NOAAS Okeanos Explorer (R 337)
-
NOAAS Rainier (S 221)
-
NOAAS Ronald H. Brown (R 104)
-
NOAAS Thomas Jefferson (S 222)
Past Fleet
- NOAAS Albatross IV (R 342) (in service 1970–2008; previously with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 1963–1970)
- NOAAS Chapman (R 446) (in service 1980–1998)
- NOAAS David Starr Jordan (R 444)[10] (in service 1970–2010; previously with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 1966–1970)
- NOAAS Davidson (S 331) (in service 1970–1989; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1967–1970)
- NOAAS Delaware II (R 445) (in service 1970–2012; previously with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 1968-1970)
- NOAAS Discoverer (R 102) (in service 1970–1996; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1967–1970)
- NOAAS Ferrel (S 492)[11] (in service 1970–2002; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1968–1970)
- NOAAS George B. Kelez (R 441) (in service 1970–1980; previously with U.S. Army 1944–1950, U.S. Navy 1950–1961, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 1962–1970)
- NOAAS Heck (S 591) (in service 1970–1995; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1967–1970)
- NOAAS John N. Cobb (R 552) (in service 1970–2008; previously with Fish and Wildlife Service 1950–1956 and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 1956–1970)
- NOAAS Ka'imimoana (R 333)[12] (in service 1996–2014; previously with U.S. Navy as USNS Titan (T-AGOS-15)1988–1993)
- NOAAS Malcolm Baldrige (R 103), see NOAAS Researcher (R 103)
- NOAAS McArthur (S 330) (in service 1970–2003; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1966–1970)
- NOAAS McArthur II (R 330) (in service 2003–2014; previously with U.S. Navy as USNS Indomitable (T-AGOS-7) 1985–2002)
- NOAAS Miller Freeman (R 223)[13] (in service 1975-2013; previously with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 1967-1970)
- NOAAS Mount Mitchell (S 222) (in service 1970-1995; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1968-1970)
- NOAAS Murre II (R 663) (in service 1970-1989; previously with U.S. Army 1943–1949 and Fish and Wildlife Service 1949–1970)
- NOAAS Oceanographer (R 101) (in service 1970–1981, 1986–1989, and ?–1996; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1966–1970)
- NOAAS Oregon (R 551) (in service 1970–1980; previously with Fish and Wildlife Service 1950–1956 and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 1956–1970)
- NOAAS Peirce (S 328) (in service 1970–1992; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1963–1970)
- MV Pribilof (in service with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service 1970–1975; previously with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 1963–1970)
- NOAAS Researcher (R 103), renamed NOAAS Malcolm Baldrige (R 103) in 1988 (in service 1970–1996; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1970)
- NOAAS Rude (S 590) (in service 1970–2008; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1967–1970)
- NOAAS Surveyor (S 132) (in service 1970–1995 or 1996; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1960–1970)
- NOAAS Townsend Cromwell (R 443) (in service 1975–2002; previously with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 1964–1975)
- NOAAS Whiting (S 329) (in service 1970–2003; previously with U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 1963–1970)
Maritime flags and pennants
NOAA ships fly the
NOAA ships also fly a "commission pennant" in a similar manner to U.S. Navy and United States Coast Guard ships.[14] The NOAA fleet has three commission pennants, one for its largest ships (which it deems "Class I" vessels), and two for smaller ships NOAA defines as "Class II," "Class III," or "Class IV" vessels.[15] The pennant for Class I vessels is 15 feet (4.6 m) long and has 13 red triangles on a white background at the hoist, with the remainder of the pennant blue, while the pennants for Class II, III, and IV vessels are 9 and 4 feet (2.7 and 1.2 m) long and have seven red triangles but otherwise are identical in design to the Class I pennant.[15][16] The pennants also carry forward a tradition of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey fleet, which flew commission pennants identical to those of the NOAA fleet.[15]
References
- This article incorporates material taken from the public domain website of the [1].
- ^ "Office of Marine and Aviation Operations |". www.omao.noaa.gov.
- ^ "NOAA awards 10-year lease to City of Lakeland, Florida, to house NOAA Aircraft Operations Center". NOAA. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations: Aircraft Accessed 27 October 2022
- ^ Dorst, Neal M. "The National Hurricane Research Center - 50 Years of Research, Rough Rides, and Name Changes" (PDF). aoml.noaa.gov. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ a b noaa.gov AFSC Historical Corner - Timeline of Significant Events Retrieved August 23, 2018
- ^ "NOAAS Gordon Gunter". NOAA. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "NOAAS Oregon II". NOAA. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "NOAAS Oscar Elton Sette". NOAA. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "NOAAA Fisheries Research Vessel PISCES Christening and Launch". NOAA. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "NOAAS David Starr Jordan". NOAA. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "NOAAS Ferrell". NOAA. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "NOAAS Ka'Imimoana". NOAA. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "NOAAS Miller Freeman". NOAA. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ a b NAO 201-6 A: Official Flags of NOAA March 15, 2015
- ^ a b c d Sea Flags: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Accessed 26 October 2022
- ^ NAO 201-6A Attachment 1: Authorized Flags of the Department of Commerce, NOAA, and the NOAA Commissioned Corps March 15, 2015