2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
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Catalog Aircraft<br />
The <strong>Airborne</strong> <strong>Science</strong> <strong>Program</strong> provides <strong>NASA</strong><br />
scientists with access to a virtual catalog of <strong>NASA</strong>owned<br />
aircraft, interagency aircraft, university<br />
operated aircraft, and commercial aircraft. In<br />
this, ASP leverages the ability to support our<br />
science customers with the right platform to get<br />
the required airborne measurements to produce<br />
effective, lowest cost science results. Since noncore<br />
aircraft are only used when needed, they are<br />
not funded except on a fully reimbursable basis,<br />
thus saving the agency significant funds while<br />
making available to the science community a wide<br />
variety of platforms in a cost efficient manner.<br />
Since FY2007, many of our commercial aircraft<br />
have been incorporated into a Blanket Purchase<br />
Agreement (BPA) that establishes rates and a<br />
contract mechanism to quickly use the companies’<br />
services. At the same time there is no minimum<br />
purchase requirement.<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> LaRC AircraftB-200<br />
B-200 and UC-12B<br />
The Research Services Directorate (RSD) at the<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> Langley Research Center (LaRC) operates<br />
a Hawker Beechcraft King Air B200 and a similar<br />
aircraft, a former military UC-12B. The aircraft<br />
are based at LaRC in Hampton, Virginia. RSD<br />
has experience working with science customers to<br />
optimize missions to meet their research requirements<br />
within the operational characteristics of the aircraft.<br />
The King Air aircraft are ideally suited for small to<br />
mid-sized instruments flying dedicated profiles or<br />
operating in conjunction with other instruments in<br />
these or other aircraft flying coordinated patterns.<br />
The two aircraft incorporate the following features<br />
and systems: GPS navigation systems, weather radar,<br />
up linked weather information and TCAS in the<br />
cockpit; 29 x 29-in. and 22 x 26-in. nadir-viewing<br />
portals with an available pressure dome fitted for the<br />
smaller aft portal; electrical power distribution and<br />
AC conversions systems; GPS antenna outputs; and<br />
Iridium satellite phone accessibility. An Applanix<br />
510 and associated PosTrak navigation and display<br />
system are available at LaRC to enhance the overall<br />
navigation system capabilities of either aircraft.<br />
Starting in FY09, the Applanix 510 has flown<br />
regularly on the B200 aircraft. An in situ sampling<br />
head, outside air temperature probe, and hygrometer<br />
probe are installed on the exterior of the UC-12B<br />
aircraft to support LaRC’s In situ Atmospheric<br />
Sampling System. Also, the UC-12B aircraft has a<br />
cargo door for oversized components, in addition to<br />
the passenger entry door.<br />
These twin-engine turboprop airplanes are certified<br />
to 35,000 ft for the B200 and 31,000 ft for the<br />
UC-12B aircraft, but are non-Reduced Vertical<br />
Separation Minima (RVSM) certified and, therefore,<br />
limited to 28,000 ft in the National Airspace<br />
System (NAS) without prior FAA coordination and<br />
approval. At maximum takeoff gross weights, the<br />
aircraft can carry a crew of three (pilot, co-pilot<br />
and research system operator), a 1200-lbs research<br />
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