The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) operates NOAA’s fleet of specialized environmental data-collecting aircraft, including three “hurricane hunter” aircraft: one Gulfstream-IV-SP (G-IV) that is 29 years old and flies high-altitude storm surveillance missions and two Lockheed WP-3D aircraft that are 48 and 49 years old and fly directly into tropical cyclones (low-altitude storm reconnaissance). The G-IV has exceeded its original estimated service life, and the WP-3Ds will reach the end of their estimated service lives in 2030.
NOAA has initiated replacement efforts for its aging hurricane hunter aircraft and Congress has appropriated funds for replacement aircraft. NOAA will replace the G-IV with two modified Gulfstream 550s and will replace the WP-3Ds with Lockheed C-130Js. The objective of our audit was to assess NOAA’s progress replacing its hurricane hunter aircraft.
We found that (1) hurricane hunter replacement programs started late, delayed definition of requirements, and did not identify and manage key risks; (2) hurricane hunter replacement programs need more effective management and executive oversight; and (3) technically complex acquisition and development programs require mature systems engineering practices.
We made seven recommendations to help NOAA apply effective program management and oversight to these major acquisitions.
