Aircraft
NOAA To Grow Data-collecting Fleet with G550, King Air
The King Air and G550 will be based at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida, where it has a fleet of nine aircraft.
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration King Air 350CER. (Photo: Textron Aviation)
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration King Air 350CER. (Photo: Textron Aviation)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded contracts totaling $52.5 million to Gulfstream Aerospace and Textron Aviation for new aircraft to gather weather and environmental data. “These American-made aircraft will greatly enhance NOAA’s ability to collect data that are vital to forecasters, researchers, and emergency managers,” acting NOAA administrator Neil Jacobs said.