1st February 2017. This week, watchkeepers from NCI Bass Point visited the Meteorological Department of the Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose.

The visitors were given a superb briefing by Senior Meteorological Officer, Lt Cdr Dan Mc Mahon on how meteorological data from local observations is managed and disseminated. The Culdrose Meteorological Team provide detailed forecasts for Royal Navy Aircraft out to 100 miles, critical for helicopter training and movements, as well as providing vital information for the National Meteorological Office at Exeter. 

As Bass Point Watchkeepers know only too well, local weather conditions in and around the Lizard Peninsula are very changeable and it was interesting to learn how the Culdrose team occasionally needs to contact local NCI Stations for immediate weather conditions.

In addition to visiting the Meteorological Department, the Watchkeepers were briefed at the top of the Control Tower, in the Visual Control Room, on how aircraft operations are managed, and saw the wider area air traffic control capability in the Radar Room.

The photograph shows Lt Cdr McMahon with the visiting Watchkeepers from NCI Bass Point inside the Meteorological Operations Room.