Small Project Support

Function RAF will support

Outside RAF scope

Comment

Lab space: RAF requires some lab space for our own instrument maintenance (usually < 200 square feet). We will try to locate lab space during site surveys and can attempt to secure more space if project investigators let us know what they need. Extra space can potentially be secured if extra cost to RAF is minimal, or on cost-sharing basis with investigators.

Special lab requirements such as wet labs, hazardous material operations, very large lab space, optical labs, etc. are outside the scope of a "small" project. RAF does not have the capability to organize such services or the budget to pay for these expenses.

Contact the RAF in advance to let us know the overall scale of your space needs. We will inform you whether the RAF can provide it, or recommend seeking external support.

Storage: RAF requires storage space on the field site, including some in the immediate vicinity of the airplane, for our own equipment. The RAF is willing to share any extra available space if project investigators let us know what they need and if extra cost to RAF is minimal, or on cost-sharing basis with investigators.

The RAF does not procure special storage facilities for large volumes of cargo. Storage near the airplane is primarily for the airplane support equipment.

If you have large shipments for your field support, please remember to make arrangements for storage. Contact the RAF to coordinate storage space with us on small projects.

Shipping: RAF will ship airplane supplies, parts and support equipment from RMMA Airport. If your equipment is located in RMMA at the time of shipment, we can coordinate shipping it with ours. We will share any knowledge of agents, customs etc. that we collect during site surveys.

Investigators are responsible for preparing their shipments and arranging the delivery of their equipment to field sites. RAF can not budget for shipping costs for investigators' equipment. Please include these costs in your project budget. A coordinated shipment can be organized on a cost sharing basis.

Only the most essential investigators' spares can be carried on the EOL airplane to the field site, provided space is available. The amount of cargo on the plane is dependent on the particular project payload and can be very limited.

Rental cars: RAF can only make these arrangements for the RAF personnel.

Investigators are responsible for budgets for their rental car arrangements.

On small projects RAF can help arrange group car rental rates.

Hotel: RAF can arrange for group rates at hotels and make reservations for the investigators provided we know the number of project participants.

Investigators are responsible for budgets for their housing expenses. RAF can only pay for RAF staff housing.

Let RAF know in advance how many participants you are going to deploy in the field. RAF can help arrange group rates.

Travel: RAF can only make these arrangements for the RAF personnel.

Investigators are responsible for making their own travel arrangements.

Transit to/from a field site on the RAF airplane is limited to instrument operators in pursuit of en route scientific objectives.

Data center: RAF/RDP will provide a basic data center. This includes a LAN, some table space, a printer, a server to make flight data available to the investigators, and an outside internet connection suitable for E-mail and other basic needs.

Any services beyond the basic data center (such as an Operations Planning and Support Center with high-speed internet access, data services, project web site, forecast support and advanced project planning support) may be available through EOL facilities by special request.

Make sure to evaluate your data and project planning support needs and request special funding for anything beyond a basic data center.

Facilities coordination: RAF project management will coordinate the RAF effort with other facilities. RAF pilots will coordinate concurrent flights with the pilots of another simultaneously deployed airplane, if needed.

RAF project management does not organize installation, deployment, communication with and management of non-RAF facilities.

For multi-facility projects, support from outside the RAF is recommended.

Payload modifications: Contact RAF to discuss possible options if you are considering instrument removals/additions during a field deployment because changes to the payload are generally not performed in the field.

Instrument racks are heavy and awkward. RAF will not detach or remove instrument racks in the field due to safety considerations and to avoid equipment or aircraft damage.

Any equipment that might require maintenance needs to be removable from the racks.

Safety and conformity review: All user equipment will be examined by RAF staff for conformity with the materials and safety standards listed in the RAF bulletins. Additional requirements apply to HIAPER.

RAF does not have the resources to modify user equipment to be compliant but will assist in designing the changes to the equipment. RAF will manufacture the necessary aircraft interface hardware.

Contact RAF prior to sending your equipment for installation to make sure it is suitable for aircraft operations.