Next week at the Owen Roberts International Airport, the public will be able to tour a Hurricane Hunter WC-130J Hercules aircraft during its second trip to Grand Cayman.
The plane will be based at the General Aviation Terminal (next to Island Air), and tours are scheduled between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 23 March.
Chief Pilot for the Hurricane Hunters, Dave Borsi said that the crew is looking forward to this return trip and to sharing their experiences and knowledge with local residents.
He explained that they visit four to five countries annually, in addition to US cities, in order to foster awareness about hurricane preparedness.
Mr. Borsi added that the Hurricane Hunters also participate in humanitarian activities such as the relief effort in Haiti, and they further assist across the region as needed, in places impacted by hurricanes.
Formally known as the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the Hurricane Hunters are an elite United States Air Force Reserve unit. Crews fly into hurricanes and storms to gather information for use by the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, as well as by weather stations across North America and the Caribbean.
This latest Hurricane Hunters visit is being coordinated by the Ministry of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture, the Cayman Islands National Weather Service (CINWS) and Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI).
Director-General of CINWS, Fred Sambula, said that all is in place to host the crew. He added, “I hope that the public will gain an appreciation of the risks involved in facing the elements to obtain up-to-the minute information on hurricanes and other weather systems.”
Hazard Management Director McLeary Frederick further underscored the need for residents to be educated on hurricane preparedness, noting that proper preparation was a critical aspect of saving lives and protecting property.
