Originally Posted by
NutLoose
When we got the first Chinooks, on engine airtests we required accurate readings for the OAT, this was done initially with a thermometer tied to a long pole, but there were concerns that one, it was mercury and that does not mix with aircraft structures ( we already had one breakage and an aircraft down for a significant time while it was rectified. ) and two, with the down draught it wouldn't be accurate, so we phone ODI met office for the temps at various heights..
All went well until one day we realised what the Met was telling us was wildly different to what we were seeing. Enquiring where he got his figures from he said it depended where they had launched a baloon and the figures he gave us were from Manchester!
Sorry that you received bolleaux from ODI ............ I was only S Met O's boss 1996-7 so probably off the hook.
The detailed upper air temperature and wind measurements were highly specialised launches from a network of about ten UK stations, and tracked to great heights with accuracy. A trained operator would spot anomalies without any problems.
I think your request should have been properly tasked officially because interpretation of the patterns was a highly-skilled job. Time of day needed for the forecast mattered a great deal for the levels at which rotary fly, and the interpolation between these "radio-sonde flights" depended also on winds and changing situations: a midnight launch from 100 miles away totally useless for 1100 flying.
I only inspected ODI a couple of times; S Met O was very worried about my possible reaction to his "improvements" to the Met. instrument enclosure. He had imported garden gnome figures, one of which was fishing in the rain gauge, and others doing sundry little jobs. Highly irregular, reprehensible, showing a lack of seriousness and bloody hilarious.
No worries O.B., but if the Director General visits, please get Snow White to take her lads away for the day.