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!