Southwest Michigan AMS/NWA
November 2, 2016 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
5500 44th St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
President Brandon Hoving (National Weather Service Grand Rapids) called the meeting to order on November 2 at 7 p.m. Eleven people attended the meeting. President Brandon Hoving (NWSGR), Chapter Treasurer William Marino (NWSGR), Chapter Vice President Warren Wheeler, and Chapter Webmaster Linda Paige attended. Chapter Secretary Steve Derry was excused.
Treasurer Marino gave a report with an account balance of $785. He discussed the dues as a calendar year of January to December. There was discussion of dues being a meeting year, with a starting month of September.
Brandon and Bill discussed the winter outlook featuring a weak La Nina and a slow start to the cold and snow. Wither may end with a powerful blast of cold and snow. Warren provided an update on the winter forecast contest.
Warren talked about Dr. Karen Koshiba with the Center for Severe Weather Research in Boulder Colorado. She will speak to both the SWMI AMS/NWA and CMU. CMU will pick up the cost of her transportation.
Linda is waiting to hear from Maria Timmer on her availability to speak at the January meeting. She is attending CMU for her PhD.
The featured speaker was the airport Operations Manager, Bruce Applebach. The airport is in the middle of a major construction project which should be finished next summer. He gave a fascinating overview of airport operations as it related to the weather. Winter is the most challenging season, but the tornadoes in August tested their severe weather preparedness. The airport purchased new snow removal equipment. They work hard to keep the airport open, knowing the high cost that closing the airport has on the tenants, like Fed Ex.
After his presentation he provided the participants with a tour of the operations center. The highlight of the evening was a bus tour of the property including the snow removal equipment and firefighting trucks. The tour stopped on the edge of the runway and the members were allowed to step off the bus and watch three aircraft emerge from the fog land right in front of them.
The tour completed and the meeting ended at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Sincerely,
Linda Paige