The Aviation Field Staff (continued)

During the post-war Warren years, 1946 to 1950, the Bureau's efforts were particularly focussed on the provision of meteorological service to a rapidly expanding aviation industry. We have seen that those years began with converted military aircraft being used for civil aviation with most flights operating at levels below 15 000 feet. With aircraft cruising speeds in the range of 100–200 knots, forecasts of winds at flight levels were important in estimating fuel consumption. The lack of sophisticated technology for navigation placed great emphasis on the forecasting of upper winds while forecasting cloud base and visibility at aerodromes was vitally important in deciding whether additional fuel needed to be carried for diversion to alternate destinations.

This period was undoubtedly one in which the degree of dependence on weather forecasting was more critical for the safe and economical operation of civil aviation than any period since.

By 1950 the international airlines were operating pressurised Lockheed Constellation and Douglas DC6 aircraft. Forecasts of air temperature as well as wind speed and direction were required for levels to over 20 000 feet, which placed additional demands on aviation meteorological offices.

The RAAF's jet fighters with ceilings of up to 50 000 feet caused a widely different set of requirements for meteorological service, involving forecasts to higher altitudes and for air temperatures of special importance to the performance of these aircraft.

Navigation and landing aids were being introduced but there was still a heavy demand on forecasts for aerodromes and for forecasts of wind and weather at flight levels.

Bureau of Meteorology