actually pre-flight briefing which happens about hr before takeoff... has a "target area" they think will be where when they arrive on scene they should find there invest/low/storm, etc... When they arrive on scene... the on board radar which is located in front of C-130 for Air Force planes and underneath on P-3's... will give them a real time look to the Met. on board... who will direct the pilot to what they think is center... the AF planes all have screens at each position on the aircraft so they all know whats going on and all agree and know what to do/jobs... the navigator usually will then pick out the butterfly invest pattern they will fly... and the Met. on board will make and ask for special procedures if something comes up... like a circle in the center... or a stuff like that... usually the met will ask when they arrive in center area.... they will give directions to pilot.. "turn left 10 degrees...etc. so they pass dead center.. and when they pass... Met./wx officer will tell dropsonde tech to release the GPS dropsonde... and they will monitor via RF the GPS dropping to the surface.. all while HDOB is running and the SMRF is running... all lasting about 10 hrs or so per flight. vortex data is reviewed and check and then add reports and then sent VIA sat Internet to servers for NHC to use.... so in reality there not sent to wrong area... but with systems like Bonnie... things can change very quickly. Its up to crew on board to find and report there infromation back to NHC. They do have Sat phns... and Sat Internet on board if they need to talk to NHC or whomever.