NOAA Airborne PlatformsNOAA Airborne PlatformsNOAA Airborne PlatformsNOAA Airborne Platforms Mission RelatedMission Related – All NOAA airborne platforms – All NOAA airborne platforms perform some type of dedicated task defined perform some type of dedicated task defined by NOAAs missionby NOAAs mission

Not for General UseNot for General Use – Participation in non-NOAA – Participation in non-NOAA field campaigns depends on relationship to field campaigns depends on relationship to NOAA’s missionNOAA’s mission

Flight Hour AllocationFlight Hour Allocation – By fleet allocation – By fleet allocation committee according to priorities set by committee according to priorities set by budget process (PPBES)budget process (PPBES)

InstrumentationInstrumentation – Generally specific to – Generally specific to mission and may or may not be available for mission and may or may not be available for general use. Some flexibility in mounting general use. Some flexibility in mounting PI-specific sensors on most platformsPI-specific sensors on most platforms

AvailabilityAvailability – Most platforms have dedicated – Most platforms have dedicated time-blocks set aside for specific projects time-blocks set aside for specific projects (e.g., hurricane research & reconnaisance)(e.g., hurricane research & reconnaisance)

General InformationGeneral Information – – http://www.aoc.noaa.gov/aircraft.htmhttp://www.aoc.noaa.gov/aircraft.htm

Mission RelatedMission Related – All NOAA airborne platforms – All NOAA airborne platforms perform some type of dedicated task defined perform some type of dedicated task defined by NOAAs missionby NOAAs mission

Not for General UseNot for General Use – Participation in non-NOAA – Participation in non-NOAA field campaigns depends on relationship to field campaigns depends on relationship to NOAA’s missionNOAA’s mission

Flight Hour AllocationFlight Hour Allocation – By fleet allocation – By fleet allocation committee according to priorities set by committee according to priorities set by budget process (PPBES)budget process (PPBES)

InstrumentationInstrumentation – Generally specific to – Generally specific to mission and may or may not be available for mission and may or may not be available for general use. Some flexibility in mounting general use. Some flexibility in mounting PI-specific sensors on most platformsPI-specific sensors on most platforms

AvailabilityAvailability – Most platforms have dedicated – Most platforms have dedicated time-blocks set aside for specific projects time-blocks set aside for specific projects (e.g., hurricane research & reconnaisance)(e.g., hurricane research & reconnaisance)

General InformationGeneral Information – – http://www.aoc.noaa.gov/aircraft.htmhttp://www.aoc.noaa.gov/aircraft.htm

Two WP-3D “Orion” Turboprops

Two WP-3D “Orion” Turboprops•Premier mesoscale weather &

air quality research platform for NOAA’s Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research

•Acquired for hurricane research (late 1970s), used in mesoscale convective systems in mid-1980s

•Some hurricane reconnaissance tasking

•Used in many joint NSF-NOAA projects (e.g., BAMEX, MAP, TOGA/COARE, etc.)

• INS & GPS position & winds

• Rosemount in-situ & CO2 radiometric temperature

• GPS dropsondes

• LF PPI & tail RHI scan Doppler radar

• 2D-C & 2D-P imaging cloud physics probes

Main Instrumentation

• Ceiling: ~27,000 ft

• Endurance: ~9.5-11.5 hours (1 hr fuel reserve)

• Range: ~2500-3800 n mi. (1 hr fuel reserve)

• Crew: ~19 max

• Operational Airspeed: 170-250 knots IAS

• Ceiling: ~27,000 ft

• Endurance: ~9.5-11.5 hours (1 hr fuel reserve)

• Range: ~2500-3800 n mi. (1 hr fuel reserve)

• Crew: ~19 max

• Operational Airspeed: 170-250 knots IAS

• High-altitude dropsonde High-altitude dropsonde platformplatform

• Used primarily for Used primarily for National Weather ServiceNational Weather Service hurricane synoptic flow & hurricane synoptic flow & winter storm targeted winter storm targeted dropsonde missionsdropsonde missions

• Used in a few NSF programs Used in a few NSF programs (e.g., FASTEX, THORPEX)(e.g., FASTEX, THORPEX)

• High-altitude dropsonde High-altitude dropsonde platformplatform

• Used primarily for Used primarily for National Weather ServiceNational Weather Service hurricane synoptic flow & hurricane synoptic flow & winter storm targeted winter storm targeted dropsonde missionsdropsonde missions

• Used in a few NSF programs Used in a few NSF programs (e.g., FASTEX, THORPEX)(e.g., FASTEX, THORPEX)

Gulfstream G-IVGulfstream G-IV

• GPS Dropsonde System (NCAR built)

• Limited flight level data

• GPS dropsondes

• Nose C-band weather avoidance radar

Main Instrumentation

• Ceiling: ~45,000 ft

• Endurance: ~8.75 hours (1hr fuel reserve)

• Range: ~3800 n mi. (1 hr reserve fuel)

• Crew: 8 max

• Operational Airspeed: 440-460 knots true

• Ceiling: ~45,000 ft

• Endurance: ~8.75 hours (1hr fuel reserve)

• Range: ~3800 n mi. (1 hr reserve fuel)

• Crew: 8 max

• Operational Airspeed: 440-460 knots true

Cessna Citation IICessna Citation II

• Coastal remote sensing imaging platform for National Geodetic Survey

• Used primarily for updating shoreline features on NOAA’s nautical charts

• Used in hurricane & World Trade Center damage assessment.

• Coastal remote sensing imaging platform for National Geodetic Survey

• Used primarily for updating shoreline features on NOAA’s nautical charts

• Used in hurricane & World Trade Center damage assessment.

• Large format aerial photography as well as data collection for digital cameras, hyperspectral, multispectral, and LIDAR systems.

• Dropsonde capable

Main Instrumentation

• Ceiling: ~45,000 ft

• Endurance: ~5 hours

• Range: ~1610 n mi.

• Crew: 6 max

• Operational Airspeed: 350 knots true

• Ceiling: ~45,000 ft

• Endurance: ~5 hours

• Range: ~1610 n mi.

• Crew: 6 max

• Operational Airspeed: 350 knots true

Gulfstream Turbo CommanderGulfstream Turbo CommanderGulfstream Turbo CommanderGulfstream Turbo Commander• Western U.S. snow surveys for National

Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center & charting for National Geodic Survey

• Measurements of natural terrestrial gamma Measurements of natural terrestrial gamma radiation emitted from the potassium, radiation emitted from the potassium, thorium, and uranium radioisotopes in the thorium, and uranium radioisotopes in the upper 20 cm of soil.upper 20 cm of soil.

• 2170 flight lines 15-20 km long by 300 m wide.

• Western U.S. snow surveys for National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center & charting for National Geodic Survey

• Measurements of natural terrestrial gamma Measurements of natural terrestrial gamma radiation emitted from the potassium, radiation emitted from the potassium, thorium, and uranium radioisotopes in the thorium, and uranium radioisotopes in the upper 20 cm of soil.upper 20 cm of soil.

• 2170 flight lines 15-20 km long by 300 m wide.

• Large format aerial photography.

• Gamma radiation detectors

• Multi-spectral scanner

Main Instrumentation

• Ceiling: ~31,000 ft

• Endurance: ~5.4 hours (1 hr fuel reserve)

• Range: ~1080 n mi. (1 hr fuel reserve)

• Crew: 7 max

• Operational Airspeed: 120-250 knots true

• Ceiling: ~31,000 ft

• Endurance: ~5.4 hours (1 hr fuel reserve)

• Range: ~1080 n mi. (1 hr fuel reserve)

• Crew: 7 max

• Operational Airspeed: 120-250 knots true

Rockwell Aero CommanderRockwell Aero CommanderRockwell Aero CommanderRockwell Aero Commander• Eastern U.S. snow surveys for National

Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center & charting for National Geodic Survey.

• Utilized primarily as aerial survey platform for visual verification of aeronautical charts, high-resolution aerial photography.

• Has been used in biological investigations, such as algal bloom measurements and sea turtle population assessments, and post-hurricane and severe flood damage assessment photography.

• Eastern U.S. snow surveys for National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center & charting for National Geodic Survey.

• Utilized primarily as aerial survey platform for visual verification of aeronautical charts, high-resolution aerial photography.

• Has been used in biological investigations, such as algal bloom measurements and sea turtle population assessments, and post-hurricane and severe flood damage assessment photography.

• Large format aerial photography.

• Gamma radiation detectors

• Multi-spectral scanner

Main Instrumentation

• Ceiling: ~12,500 ft

• Endurance: ~6 hour

• Range: ~860 n mi.

• Crew: 5 max

• Operational Airspeed: 90-150 knots true

• Ceiling: ~12,500 ft

• Endurance: ~6 hour

• Range: ~860 n mi.

• Crew: 5 max

• Operational Airspeed: 90-150 knots true

DeHavilland Twin OtterDeHavilland Twin OtterDeHavilland Twin OtterDeHavilland Twin Otter• Fish survey for National Marine Fishery

Service.

• Atmospheric boundary layer chemistry sampling for Air Resources Laboratory.

• Coastal erosion studies using LIDAR

• Ocean organic pigments (chlorophyll and disolved organic matter).

• Fish survey for National Marine Fishery Service.

• Atmospheric boundary layer chemistry sampling for Air Resources Laboratory.

• Coastal erosion studies using LIDAR

• Ocean organic pigments (chlorophyll and disolved organic matter).

• Aerial photography.

• Vertical eddy fluxes of T, q, and CO2

• Air chemistry sampling (NO, NOx, NOy, SO2, O3, CO, and reactive hydrocarbons (no internal fuel tank)

• Dye-marker drop tube

• Airborne LIDAR

Main Instrumentation

• Ceiling: ~12,500 ft

• Endurance: ~7 hour (with internal 1000 lbs auxiliary fuel tank)

• Range: ~565 n mi.

• Crew: 8 max

• Operational Airspeed: 110 knots true

• Ceiling: ~12,500 ft

• Endurance: ~7 hour (with internal 1000 lbs auxiliary fuel tank)

• Range: ~565 n mi.

• Crew: 8 max

• Operational Airspeed: 110 knots true

Lake SeawolfLake SeawolfLake SeawolfLake Seawolf• Biological surveys including red drum, sea

turtle and marine mammal surveys, as well as on site terrain observations.

• Patrol aircraft for Channel Islands & Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries.

• Emergency response for oil spills & assess man-made damage to sanctuaries

• Biological surveys including red drum, sea turtle and marine mammal surveys, as well as on site terrain observations.

• Patrol aircraft for Channel Islands & Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries.

• Emergency response for oil spills & assess man-made damage to sanctuaries• Bubble windows on each side.

• Wing camera pod

Main Instrumentation

• Ceiling: ~12,500 ft

• Endurance: ~12 hour (with internal 1000 lbs auxiliary fuel tank)

• Range: ~1500 n mi.

• Crew: 4 max

• Operational Airspeed: 120 knots true

• Ceiling: ~12,500 ft

• Endurance: ~12 hour (with internal 1000 lbs auxiliary fuel tank)

• Range: ~1500 n mi.

• Crew: 4 max

• Operational Airspeed: 120 knots true

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.