The Research Aviation Facility (RAF), a Facility in the Atmospheric Technology Division of NCAR, announces IDEAS Phase 3, an instrumentation-development program on the C-130Q Hercules. The program's goal is to improve the capability of instrumentation for future NSF airborne deployments and to provide opportunities for students to learn about observational science.

The Instrument Development and Education in Airborne Science (IDEAS) program has now completed its first year of implementation. The "idea" for the IDEAS program came from the annual UCAR Members' Meeting in the fall of 2000. A review of facility needs was conducted at this meeting, and one major discussion issue was that university faculty and students want more opportunities to participate in instrument development efforts. In particular, they wish to have the opportunity to access facilities that are not easily available to them, such as research aircraft, but are essential for testing new instruments they have or are developing. Previous UCAR Members' Meetings identified another need: to train students in observational science. There are few opportunities for students to fly on research aircraft and to actually participate in airborne measurements of clouds or other constituents of the atmosphere.

Research flights, originating from the RAF facility at the Jefferson County airport in Broomfield, CO, will be conducted between 15 August and 19 September 2003 in both clear and cloudy conditions to test community, NCAR and RAF instruments for airborne measurements. A total of 25 flight hours is available for the program. Approximately one 3- to 6-hour flight is planned per week. (Data review, instrumentation modifications and flight planning will occur between flights.) A limited number of seats should be available for student participation, provided the student is able and willing to operate instrumentation and data systems after suitable instruction by NCAR scientists and technicians.

The C-130Q will measure state parameters (temperature, pressure, humidity), winds, aircraft position and attitude, infrared/visible/ultra-violet radiation and other ancillary measurements in addition to the instruments undergoing test. These data will be displayed in real time in flight, and investigators will have access to variables via a serial feed for recording on their own systems. Data recorded on the RAF system will be processed and made available shortly after a flight.

The RAF is seeking participants for IDEAS. Several non-NCAR scientists and students can be accommodated on each flight, depending on the final payload configuration. The guidelines for IDEAS are:

• The instrument to be tested should be one that is supported by the NSF, or the results of the instrument test flight should support objectives of NSF-supported research. The likelihood of the instrument's use in future NSF projects will also be a consideration in selecting the payload for the C-130Q. The deployment of instruments for the purpose of developing commercial products is not included, however, commercial instruments can be flow for the purpose of evaluating their performance for consideration of future purchase by NCAR, provided that all data collected by the instrument is freely available in accordance with EOL's data policy.
• The required logistics associated with deploying the instrument will be considered in selecting instruments for the test flight payload. Because of limited time, funds, and space on the aircraft, some instruments may not qualify.
• Instruments that have never flown before or instruments that are especially in need of flight testing to demonstrate a proof-of-concept are especially welcome.
• All participants must agree to make their data freely available and to provide copies of their final data in a timely manner.
• The ability of scientists and students to participate in the flights, including flight planning, data analysis, and presentation of the results will be considered in selecting participants.
• Limited support for adapting instrumentation to fly on the C-130Q is available. However, travel funds are not available through the IDEAS program .
• The deadline for proposing an instrument for the test period is 15 July 2003. Upload of the instrumentation will begin shortly thereafter. The payload will be selected based on the feasibility of the installation and the above guidelines.

Note: instruments that require substantial preparation to be ready for flight testing should be submitted as early as possible to allow additional time.

Student Participants

Student participation is targeted at higher education students, especially those who may have an interest in a career related to airborne science. Other student participation will be considered on a lower priority basis. Faculty members teaching related classes (e.g., instrumentation, air pollution, meteorology, etc.) are welcome to propose measurement needs for class projects using data collected by students during IDEAS.

Note: No funds are available for student support. Participating students must arrange their own transportation, lodging, etc.

To request student participation in IDEAS:

• Please download, fill out and submit a copy the IDEAS Student Participation Request form.

  ASCII version (to download, hold <SHIFT> key and click left mouse button)
  Microsoft Word (doc) version (to download, hold <SHIFT> key and click left mouse button)
  Adobe Acrobat (pdf) version (Coming soon)
  HTML version (display only; not for submission)

• Then return the completed form:
  • Contact us to make arrangements for returning it electronically.
  • Send it via US mail to:

    IDEAS
    Attention, Allen Schanot
    Research Aviation Facility
    Jefferson County Airport
    10802 Airport Court
    Broomfield, CO 80021

To propose an instrument for IDEAS:

• Please download, fill out and submit a copy the IDEAS Instrument Proposal form.

  ASCII version (to download, hold <SHIFT> key and click left mouse button)
  Microsoft Word (doc) version (to download, hold <SHIFT> key and click left mouse button)
  Adobe Acrobat (pdf) version (Coming soon)
  HTML version (display only; not for submission)

• Then return the completed form.
  • Contact us to make arrangements for returning it electronically.
  • Send it via US mail to:

    IDEAS
    Attention, Allen Schanot
    Research Aviation Facility
    Jefferson County Airport
    10802 Airport Court
    Broomfield, CO 80021

Prospective participants are encouraged to discuss their ideas with

Jeff Stith, RAF Manager, phone: (303)497-1032, email or
Allen Schanot, IDEAS Project Manager, phone: (303)497-1063, email

Principal Investigator: Jeff Stith
Project Manager: Allen Schanot
IDEAS Web Site suggestions/ideas: Ron Ruth