One of the benefits about attending Embry-Riddle is its proximity to the airport. This is not only helpful to Aeronautical Science majors, as it provides some benefits to meteorology majors too. A few weeks ago my WX 327 (Operational Analysis and Forecasting) class has the opportunity to take a trip to the airport to visit the Automated Surface Observing System, also known as the ASOS.
The ASOS is an unmanned weather station located at most airports that provides measurements of temperature, wind speed and direction, precipitation type, and visibility. All of this information is critical for the smooth operations of an airport, ensuring that all pilots and air traffic controllers are aware of current landing conditions to land planes safely.
After meeting at the airport, my class boarded buses where we were driven to the ASOS, which sits at the end of the runway on a patch of grass. This ensures that all the measurements are accurate, and that there are no close buildings or pavement to throw them off.
While we have been learning about this device in the classroom for the entire semester, being able to see it in person was a very valuable experience. I never realized the true scale of this system, as it is very tall and very long. This is one of the great things about Embry-Riddle, getting this real life learning experience on an average Wednesday since we are so fortunate to have the airport in our backyard. It has allowed myself and all the other students interested in meteorology to see an element of this first hand, something you can’t get just by going to a lecture.
Let me know what other trips you have been on for your classes down below!
Hello again! Usually the posted highlights of my time spent at Embry-Riddle come from the weekends, but this time it comes from a weekday event. This past week, I went on a tour of Daytona Beach International Airport with the Airport Management Club. We had the opportunity to speak with airport operations workers, who administered the tour. I feel like I have a new perspective of how intricate and detailed running an airport can be.
First, we toured the terminal. Everywhere we went, there was something new to learn. Justin, who worked at airport operations, explained the procedures for painting the terminal ramp, as well as the runways. Additionally, jet bridges (or Jetways) are extended to their full length to allow the jet bridges to ventilate and dry out. In Florida, as I’ve quickly learned from observing the chain on my bike, everything rusts.
We drove around the perimeter of the airport, carefully watching the swamps and water runoffs, as these areas are prone to wildlife. The airport operations workers cautiously moved a snapper turtle, from the road to the runoff, with nothing but their arm strength and a shovel. I never thought about wildlife’s role on airports, or how airports control them.
Further down the road led us to the airport firehouse, where we got a demonstration of their newest truck, capable of holding 330 thousand gallons of water (if I recall correctly). It’s amazing how fast these trucks move, considering their weight. Following the demonstration, we thanked the airport operations guys, and headed back to Embry-Riddle.