1. University Perspective Univs. North Dakota and Wyoming Issues in Common Mission Funding Staffing Safety

2. University of Wyoming Department of Atmospheric Science Raytheon Beech King Air N2UW Airborne Platforms Subcommittee NSF Facilities Assessment 8/28/2006 Photo courtesy of Vanda Grubisic, DRI

3. “Bird One” Twin-Beech (C-45) Surplus –Davis Monthan AFB Mid-1960’s—Bureau of Reclamation Cloud seeding physical studies.

4. “Bird Two” Beech Queen Air 1970’s Hail research (NHRE) NSF PI funding Weather modification: Montana (Burec) Spain (WMO)

5. “Bird Three” Raytheon Beech 200 T Late 1970’s Bureau of Reclamation (HIPLEX and SCPP)

6. Overview Purchased by UW new in 1977 for BurRec HIPLEX and SCPP projects (cloud seeding physical studies) Those instruments purchased under BurRec funding were transferred to UW in mid-1980’s. NSF cooperative agreements for operation as an NSF/LAOF began 1988.

7. Mission Capabilities Standard measurements (NSF base funded): –State parameters –Winds (INS/gust probe) –Cloud microphysics –Flux sensing (10 Hz) –95 GHz cloud radar “PI” instruments (not base funded) –Aerosols –Chemistry –Elastic lidar (cloud base, phase detection)

8. Max Altitude35,000 ftCertification 31,000 ftPractical limit 28,000 ftRVSM limit Endurance4.5 hrsw/ IFR reserves Payload3000 lbzero fuel payload 1919 lbfull fuel, crew (4) Airspeed160 KIASTypical Research Power240 amps 28VDC (80% of one side) UWKA Performance

9. UWKA Operations FAA Part 91 (restricted) Follow manufacturer’s maintenance program In-house mods and installations with 337 field approval DER engineering more frequent Safety program

10. UWKA Funding NSF Cooperative Agreements since 1988 –NSF deployment pool eligibility –Charge variable costs only ($1,300/hr + deployment costs) Non-NSF –Charge full costs Variable cost plus “availability charge”

11. NSF Cooperative Agreements (currently 5 th since 1988) CA5: NSF Priority use of UWKA (2004) –36 weeks/year –No flight hour goal (max 450 flight hr/year) –Roughly 3-5 deployments per year

15. UWKA Hours under CA4 and CA5 (1999-2006) All HrsNSFNSF/AllocNSF YearFlownAllocatedScaledFlown CY1999376249306233 CY2000180116269101 CY200177388533 CY2002333260244214 CY2003241211217211 CY2004511485623471 CY200511410015091 CY2006 (est)310180234178 CA5 Avg/year311255336247 CA4 Avg/year241175224159

16. Departmental Facilities Wyoming King Air Research Aircraft Wyoming Balloon Launch Facility Wyoming Cloud Radar Elk Mountain Observatory

17. UWKA Staffing 2 King Airs (research and transportation) –~300+ hrs/year each Three pilots (UW employees) –39% by NSF –Copilot mandated for transportation –Single pilot ops for research Two mechanics (UW employees) –29% by NSF –One IA (Inspection Authorization) Hangar with offices and machine shop

18. UWKA Staffing (cont.) 11 other individuals directly involved –Engineering –Technical support –Machinist –Scientific support –Project management –Computing –Administration 53% salaries for 16 individuals funded by NSF. Rest by PI grants, etc.

19. Upgrades

20. 1988: Data system upgrade –UW/DAS-Burec funds 1991: IRS –Honeywell Laseref SM –NSF/Cost recovery funds ($250K) 1993: Flux upgrades and radiometer addition –UW (Major Equip) and funding NASA (Boreas) –Nose ring, Friehe-type temperature, LICOR H 2 0/CO 2 –Boseboom-mods-shorten tubing and temperature-control x- ducers. –Eppley pyranometers and pyrgeometers –Heiman IR radiative thermometer FACILITY UPGRADES

21. 1992-present: 95-GHz cloud radar (www-das.uwyo.edu/wcr) –1992: UMass radar flown on KA –1995: Wyoming radar delivered (Quadrant) $800K –ONR/EPSCor:50% –NSF36% –NSF/KA/Cost recovery14% (NASA/ONR) 1996: Replace 20 year old PMS/FSSP ($30K) –UW Major Equipment and NSF/KA/Cost recovery FACILITY UPGRADES

22. 1996-1999: New data system –Phase I: ($30K) UW Major Equip and NSF/KA/Cost recovery Replace Motorola System 1000 with Sun workstation Data Views real-time display software ($$) –Phase II: ($120K) UW/DAS discretionary funds and NSF/KA/Cost recovery Replaced system chassis with off-the-shelf components Replaced digitization unit (64 channel x 100 Hz) Force CPU’s and “profile modules” New post-flight software (Matlab-based) netCDF format FACILITY UPGRADES

23. 1999: Gerber Scientific liquid water probe (PVM100) –($25K) UW Major Equipment and ONR Cost Recovery (Vali/Kelly) OFAP 4/17/00 FACILITY UPGRADES

24. 2000: Avionics Upgrade –Old avionics 24 years old and unreliable New 3-tube display system (EFIS) New radios, etc. New radar with RHI capability FMS, GPWS, TCAS, etc. $600K

25. 2000: Modify “Radar Wing” to accept dual-beam single antenna –UW/DAS funding (1K) –UMass experimental dual-beam antenna –Engineering to modify STC completed –Test fly July 2000 (Vali/Kelly) FACILITY UPGRADES

26. FUTURE FACILITY UPGRADES Keck Laboratory (Deshler et al.) –Keck Foundation funding ($1M) –Develop aerosol calibration lab –Add aerosol instruments to UWKA PCASP (Passive Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer Probe) Nephelometer CN counter Airborne Aerodyne mass spectrometer

27. Recent Upgrades Engine upgrade ($500K) (UW/NSF) APN-132 radar altimeter ($35K) (UW/NSF) 95-GHz radar replacement (upgrade) ($640K) (UW/NASA/NSF) Cloud base lidar ($50K) (UW)

28. FUTURE FACILITY UPGRADES