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I. Introduction
The University of Wyoming (UW) King Air (UWKA) is available to the scientific community for research. It is funded partially by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a National Facility under a cooperative agreement with UW.
Typical research applications of airborne measurements obtained with the UWKA to the atmospheric and oceanic sciences include:
As with the NSF aircraft at NCAR, allocations from NSF deployment pool for the UWKA support of NSF-funded projects are made by the NSF after receiving advice from the Observing Facilities Assessment Panel (OFAP). The requesting scientist has the responsibility of initiating the request for support and for providing all the necessary information to allow a proper assessment of the proposed research by the UW Flight Facility, and the OFAP.
Allocations of the UWKA to projects with funding from other sources are made by UW after they are evaluated for being a "net benefit" to the NSF community by the OFAP. Non-NSF projects are not eligible for NSF deployment funds.
II. Available Systems
The UWKA has a wide range of sensors to measure a large array of atmospheric parameters. Users can specify instrumentation that is available or can be made available, including, the following.
A. Standard Instrumentation:
UW is responsible for providing this basic set of measurements.
The instrumentation list is available as a guide to the available sensors. It is available in *.doc and *.pdf formats.
B. Special instrumentation:
These systems are not part of the standard package at the present time. Each has a designated principal investigator who should be contacted directly for information about how to obtain support. In some cases, additional funding is needed before systems can be committed.
The Wyoming Cloud Radar (WCR) is available by special arrangement with the principal investigators of this system as explained in the (WCR) web page. Commitment of the WCR to projects requires supplemental funding. It is not eligible for support allocation from the the FAC.
Assistance to the user is available in the areas of aeronautical, mechanical,
and electrical engineering and design. UW will provide guidance in atmospheric
sampling and atmospheric measurements during the pre-operational phases
of the programs. After project completion, UW personnel are available for
guidance in interpreting specific measurements when necessary.
Contact UW Engineer Perry
Wechsler for inquiries
III. Data Recording and Processing
The UWKA is equipped with computer-controlled data logging and display systems that both record data on magnetic tape (8mm) and provide graphical and tabular output during flight. Data tapes generated during research flights are processed at UW to produce final standard output data tapes containing measured and derived parameters. Non-standard data formats may be accommodated only through pre-project planning between users and UW. UW has the capability to process the raw data tapes with computers and software in the field within 24 hours of the flight, providing both the investigator and UW personnel the opportunity to examine data in near-real time final processed data.
On-board computing is available to the flight crew and scientists to provide real-time information for mission control. This on-board computing capability is extensive and flexible. With sufficient lead time, special user-provided software routines can be installed for in-flight use. Contact Perry
Wechsler for inquiries about this capability.
IV. Engineering Support
Operational and Scientific Support:
An UW Project Manager is assigned to serve as the primary interface with the user scientist and to work with him/her to plan the most effective scientific experiment possible. From his knowledge of the program's scientific requirements, the Project Manager may assist in defining particular sensors for the instrumentation package, the design of flight profiles, or the most applicable data processing techniques. The level of scientific participation by UW is normally limited to project planning, operational assistance, quality control for sensor and data system performance, data processing, and final data delivery to the user.
On occasion, more extensive scientific participation may be arranged, up to and including UW's taking "principal investigator" responsibility for the aircraft phase of the program. Usually this level of participation would include responsibility for planning, execution, and analysis of the aircraft measurements within a larger multi-institutional research program. Intermediate levels of scientific participation at the co-investigator level are encouraged where expertise exists at UW. Participation beyond what UW defines as normal would be at the request of the user.
UW pilots will work with investigators through the UW Project Manager in planning missions, obtaining FAA clearances, and meeting any special requests concerning flight operations. Requests for diplomatic clearances, required when operating in most foreign countries, will be initiated by UW.
Flight support is requested using the Request for Support Form ( *.doc or *.pdf ).
A. NSF Observing Facilities Advisory Panel Review
Requests for aircraft support are reviewed by the NSF Observing Facilities Assessment Panel (OFAP) on support allocations. Request procedure is similar to that for requesting NCAR aircraft, but the request is made directly to the University of Wyoming. Based on its assessment of the scientific merit, experimental design, benefit-to-cost ratio, PI record, and educational benefit, the OFAP makes either a support, defer, or decline recommendation to the FAC for each project. In the case of competing requests for support, or when the total of all requests exceeds the available resources, the Panel will recommend priorities considering all aspects of the request.
The Panel meets twice each year, during April and October, to review requests for support. The Panel is composed of atmospheric scientists from universities, government agencies, and NCAR who are well versed in the use of observational facilities.
B. Scientific Program Review
In addition to the above-described review performed by the OFAP, it is essential that all projects requesting UW support undergo a scientific review. For programs supported by the National Science Foundation, the OFAP procedures recognize the review of the proposed science during the NSF peer-review process. Proposals for research grants involving UW aircraft should be submitted to NSF for review no later than four months prior to the Panel meeting. Requests that have not reached NSF in the required time period will not be considered at the Panel meeting. The OFAP review will focus on the operational and support aspects of the proposal (as these pertain to UW aircraft).
A request for UW flight support shall be considered complete when the following information has been received by UW:
The deadline for receipt of completed requests is four months prior to the OFAP meeting (e.g., mid-December for the following year's April meeting and mid-June for the October Panel meeting) at which the request is to be considered. The deadline dates are announced in the AMS Bulletin, UCAR Newsletter and NSF Bulletin. The NSF user guide for requesting the LAOF facilities is http://www.eol.ucar.edu/dir_off/OFAP/info/UserGuide.pdf .
VII. Operational Program Participation
Scientific investigators are required to guide and participate in the
in-flight conduct of the research. This may be done through delegation
to another qualified member of the scientific group or through delegation
to a qualified member of the UW support team.
In all such cases, it is necessary for the scientific investigator and
the investigator's group to visit UW prior to the field program to receive
orientation and training in the use of the instrumentation and data systems.
These individuals will also participate in the instrumentation flight tests
which are conducted prior to the scientific field-phase of the program.