The primary goal of this project is to develop next generation aircraft flight planning software for use by noaas national hurricane center (NHC) and NOAA laboratories (e.g., aoml/HRD) that use NOAA…

Cooperative Agreement Summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) a $422,188 cooperative agreement under the Weather and Air Quality Research program (CFDA 11.459) effective August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2028. The primary deliverable is the development of next-generation aircraft flight planning software designed specifically for use by NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) and NOAA laboratories, including the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory's Hurricane Research Division (AOML/HRD). This software will support improved flight operations and research mission planning for NOAA aircraft conducting hurricane research and atmospheric observations.

The Weather and Air Quality Research program funds research and development activities to advance weather observations, modeling, and forecasting capabilities. NCAR, a federally funded research and development center with extensive expertise in atmospheric research and specialized software development, is well-positioned to deliver this flight planning tool. The three-year performance period aligns with typical cooperative agreement durations under this program, which generally supports projects transitioning research outputs toward operational implementation within NOAA's forecasting infrastructure. The work will be performed in Boulder, Colorado, where NCAR maintains its primary research facilities.

The primary goal of this project is to develop next generation aircraft flight planning software for use by noaas national hurricane center (NHC) and NOAA laboratories (e.g., aoml/HRD) that use NOAA aircraft to conduct research.