The fleet of the UAE’s weather bureau will soon include more sophisticated cloud-seeding aircraft.
The National Centre of Meteorology said Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with Calidus Aerospace in Abu Dhabi to purchase its cutting-edge aircraft.The Wx-80 turboprop aircraft, according to the NCM, has sophisticated safety apparatus as well as other features and can carry bigger quantities of cloud-seeding chemicals.
Prior to this, NCM’s primary aircraft for seeding operations were Beechcraft KingAir C90s.Although it remained unclear when or how many planes the NCM planned to purchase, the meteorological agency said the agreement represented a significant advancement for the seeding programme.
The NCM announced on social media that it had reached a significant turning point in its plan to improve cloud seeding capabilities, extend seeding operations, and help the UAE achieve water security.
Research is being conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the complex process of seeding. But in essence, it is launching salt flares or other tiny things into clouds in an effort to increase the amount of rain.The seeding programme for the UAE started in the 1990s. By the 2000s, the NCM was collaborating with international leaders including NASA and the American National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Each year, the NCM, which is in charge of the program, completes hundreds of missions.
