Aircraft Operations Center, Public research facility at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, US

The Aircraft Operations Center is a public facility at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport that operates specialized aircraft for environmental data collection. The site includes maintenance hangars, component storage areas, and administrative offices that support all daily operations.

The facility relocated from MacDill Air Force Base to Lakeland in 2017, significantly expanding its operational footprint. This move allowed the center to grow its capacity for aircraft maintenance and data collection activities.

The Hurricane Hunters are the center's best-known unit: the two WP-3D Orion turboprops are nicknamed "Kermit" (N42RF) and "Miss Piggy" (N43RF), while the high-altitude Gulfstream IV-SP is called "Gonzo" (N49RF). These aircraft fly into and around tropical cyclones each hurricane season for research and forecasting. The fleet also includes four DHC-6 Twin Otters and three Beechcraft King Air 350CERs.

The center relies on a long runway for its aircraft operations and depends on the airport's existing infrastructure. Visitors should note this is a working facility with limited public access to operational areas.

Several of the center's specialized aircraft are designed to gather critical weather data while flying into hurricanes. This information helps forecasters provide timely warnings to coastal communities facing dangerous storms.