The Hurricane Research Division (HRD) is a part of the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML). We are engaged in advancing the basic physical understanding and improving the forecasts of hurricanes and tropical meteorological systems. A key aspect of HRD's activity is its annual field program of flights aboard NOAA's research aircraft (two WP-3D turboprops and a Gulfstream IV-SP jet) flown by NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center.