the workshop participants, listening attentively as Bill Cox delivers

Meteorological Services across the world participate in the free exchange of weather data collected. This exchange enables us to more accurately forecast and prepare ourselves for eventualities created by atmospheric conditions. These services are provided in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, a department of the US Government). NOAA provides the necessary equipment to measure parameters in the upper atmosphere critical to weather forecasts to the associate nations. As a part of our service contract with the Cayman Islands Airport we are required to service and maintain the equipment used by the Cayman Islands Meteorological Service.

Bill Cox from Proton Energy Systems explains the diagnostic functions

Following the passage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, we lost our Hydrogen generator; this generator is a vital part of the Upper Air data collection system. Data is collected using an inexpensive, lightweight transmitter attached to a hydrogen filled balloon which is released into the atmosphere by the staff of the local meteorological service. Without a generator, launches have to be done using gas purchased from a local distributor, however this is not necessarily reliable and due to the significance of this service a new generator was supplied by NOAA.

NOAA extended an invitation to the Cayman Islands Meteorological Services to attend a training workshop in San Andres for support personnel who will maintain the generator locally. Donaldson Salmon and Mario Barrett from Aviation Communications Limited (AVCOM) were selected for the workshop.

The trip began Sunday August 13th, we flew from Grand Cayman to Miami International Airport and then onto “Aureopuerto de El Dorado” in Bogota, Colombia. We left Bogota the following morning bound for San Andres. San Andres is a small Colombian island off the coast of Nicaragua. We met with all the parties involved in the workshop later that evening and organized our activities for the following day.

Tuesday the 15th, we attend the first day of the workshop host by the San Andres Meteorological Services near the local airport. The workshop was taught by William Cox an Engineer from Proton Energy Systems, (who manufactures the generators). Also present were representatives from Bogota, Bahamas, Dominican Republic and of course Ken Clark from NOAA/NWS.