SheltAir FLL Hosting NASA Hurricane Test Base

A NASA Earth science field experiment is being conducted from a temporary base at SheltAir’s FBO facility at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood (Fla.) International Airport. The FBO is assisting the Grip (for genesis and rapid intensification processes) experiment during the peak of South Florida’s hurricane season. Through the experiment, NASA is seeking to gather quantitative data to gain a better understanding of how tropical storms form and develop into major hurricanes. NASA’s DC-8 airborne laboratory is being temporarily based at SheltAir FLL, along with some 150 NASA scientists, managers and support staff for which the FBO is providing 6,000 sq ft of office space. The DC-8, which is expected to make 12 flights as part of this research, is tailored to fly into hurricanes to collect data on the storm’s structure, dynamics and motion. This research started last month and will continue through October 15. SheltAir told AIN that aircraft services for transient and based customers at its FLL facility will not be affected by NASA’s operation.