2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program

Catalog Aircraft
The Airborne Science Program provides NASA
scientists with access to a virtual catalog of NASAowned
aircraft, interagency aircraft, university
operated aircraft, and commercial aircraft. In
this, ASP leverages the ability to support our
science customers with the right platform to get
the required airborne measurements to produce
effective, lowest cost science results. Since noncore
aircraft are only used when needed, they are
not funded except on a fully reimbursable basis,
thus saving the agency significant funds while
making available to the science community a wide
variety of platforms in a cost efficient manner.
Since FY2007, many of our commercial aircraft
have been incorporated into a Blanket Purchase
Agreement (BPA) that establishes rates and a
contract mechanism to quickly use the companies’
services. At the same time there is no minimum
purchase requirement.
NASA LaRC AircraftB-200
B-200 and UC-12B
The Research Services Directorate (RSD) at the
NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) operates
a Hawker Beechcraft King Air B200 and a similar
aircraft, a former military UC-12B. The aircraft
are based at LaRC in Hampton, Virginia. RSD
has experience working with science customers to
optimize missions to meet their research requirements
within the operational characteristics of the aircraft.
The King Air aircraft are ideally suited for small to
mid-sized instruments flying dedicated profiles or
operating in conjunction with other instruments in
these or other aircraft flying coordinated patterns.
The two aircraft incorporate the following features
and systems: GPS navigation systems, weather radar,
up linked weather information and TCAS in the
cockpit; 29 x 29-in. and 22 x 26-in. nadir-viewing
portals with an available pressure dome fitted for the
smaller aft portal; electrical power distribution and
AC conversions systems; GPS antenna outputs; and
Iridium satellite phone accessibility. An Applanix
510 and associated PosTrak navigation and display
system are available at LaRC to enhance the overall
navigation system capabilities of either aircraft.
Starting in FY09, the Applanix 510 has flown
regularly on the B200 aircraft. An in situ sampling
head, outside air temperature probe, and hygrometer
probe are installed on the exterior of the UC-12B
aircraft to support LaRC’s In situ Atmospheric
Sampling System. Also, the UC-12B aircraft has a
cargo door for oversized components, in addition to
the passenger entry door.
These twin-engine turboprop airplanes are certified
to 35,000 ft for the B200 and 31,000 ft for the
UC-12B aircraft, but are non-Reduced Vertical
Separation Minima (RVSM) certified and, therefore,
limited to 28,000 ft in the National Airspace
System (NAS) without prior FAA coordination and
approval. At maximum takeoff gross weights, the
aircraft can carry a crew of three (pilot, co-pilot
and research system operator), a 1200-lbs research
64