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Tag: forecasts

  • NASA Prototype Forecasts Storms For Transoceanic Flights

    A new NASA-funded system developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is now providing weather forecasts so that plane flights can avoid major storms over remote ocean regions.

    The prototype system provides eight-hour forecasts that are designed for air traffic controllers and pilots. The system combines satellite data and computer weather models to map storms over the world’s oceans. The technology is based on NCAR systems that alert pilots and air traffic controllers of storms over the continental United States. The new system’s creation was inspired in part by the crash of Air France Flight 447 in 2009 when it encountered thunderstorms over the Atlantic Ocean.

    “These new forecasts can help fill an important gap in our aviation system,” said Cathy Kessinger, lead researcher on the project at NCAR. “Pilots have had limited information about atmospheric conditions as they fly over the ocean, where conditions can be severe. By providing them with a picture of where significant storms will be during an eight-hour period, the system can contribute to both the safety and comfort of passengers on flights.”

    Predicting the turbulence associated with storms over oceans is somewhat harder than storms over land. Geostationary satellites in orbit are unable to see within clouds the way ground-based radar can. Pilots often have to choose between massive detours or flying directly through an area that may contain storms associated with windshear, icing conditions, lightning, hail, or severe turbulence.

    Currently, pilots on transoceanic flights get preflight briefings, with weather updates every four hours in the case of extreme storms. The planes used for such flights also have an onboard radar, which is of little use for planning while in-flight.

    “Turbulence is the leading cause of injuries in commercial aviation,” said John Haynes, Applied Sciences program manager at NASA Headquarters. “This prototype system is of crucial importance to pilots and is another demonstration of the practical benefit of NASA’s Earth observations.”

    (Image courtesy NASA/NCAR Research Applications Laboratory)

  • Tyco International Gets Approval For Spinoffs

    Tyco International, a worldwide security company with headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, announced this week that its shareholders have approved the spinoff of both its North American ADT Security Services business and its flow control business. The company stated that it has already completed equity intrest distribution to shareholders of record. Tyco shareholders also elected two new directors and approved two cash dividend payments: one for $0.15 per share per quarter paid on November 15, 2012 and February 20, 2013.

    The shareholder vote for the spinoffs came the same day that the Anti-Monopoly Bureau of China’s Ministry of Commerce cleared the merger of Tyco Flow Control and Pentair, a Minnesota-based water technology company. The merger will be a tax-free, all-stock merger.

    As a result of the spinoffs of ADT and Tyco Flow Control, the company updated its fourth quarter guidance. While guidance for its flow control segment remains unchanged, difficulties in its other two business segments have shifted forecasts. Tyco’s fire and security segment now expects an operating margin of 11.2% to 12% due to “certain aged receivables related to security contracts in China” not being collectible. As for the ADT North American residential and small business segment, its operating margin forecast has declines to 23.5% to 23.75% due to settling a law suit “related to” the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.