NOAA has used jets to fly around hurricanes for decades, gathering data that feeds into forecasts. A new study finds that adding a second flight path closer to the storm’s centre can sharpen those forecasts. The research looked at the flight patterns NOAA’s hurricane hunters have flown for years. It found that the extra inner pass gives models a clearer picture of the storm’s core, where the strongest winds and fastest changes happen. Better forecasts matter most at landfall. Even small gains in track and intensity accuracy can change evacuation orders and save lives. Coastal cities from the US Gulf to the Caribbean depend on these forecasts every season. The finding comes as hurricane science advances, with NOAA also testing next-generation wildfire detection tools. The study is part of a wider push to squeeze more value from the data NOAA already collects. Instead of building new planes, the agency is learning to fly its existing fleet smarter. For forecasters, the message is simple: where the plane goes matters as much as the instruments it carries. The inner flight path is now a proven way to buy extra accuracy when it counts most.