BAe 146 atmospheric research aircraft
Some time ago there was a thread here about the possible use of a 146 in extended low-level flying over the sea, replacing a C-130. I suspect that this possibility has now become reality:
BAE SYSTEMS Aircraft Joins Global Warming and Atmospheric Pollution Research Program
Press release, February 15, 2001
BAE SYSTEMS' Aircraft Services Group has contracted to provide the charter of an instrumented aircraft facility which will enable the UK atmospheric research community to assess information on global warming, pollution levels, atmospheric radiation and environmental risks and hazards.
Valued at between (pound)28m and (pound)42m, depending on aircraft utilization, the contract is with UMIST (the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology), which has formed a strategic partnership with the Meteorological Office and the Natural Environment Research Council.
A BAe 146-300 development aircraft - serial number E3001 - will provide an airborne atmospheric research service. The conversion of the aircraft and new scientific instrumentation will be funded by a (pound)16.5m award from the Joint Infrastructure Fund to UMIST and the University of Cambridge together with support from the Met Office. The conversion, role equipping and certification of the BAe 146 will be completed during the third quarter of 2002 to allow ten years of
operational flying to commence. The aircraft will be based at Woodford, near Manchester, where an UK atmospheric research centre of excellence joint facility will be established by the partnership. The majority of flying will be in UK airspace, however a significant amount of global research will be conducted.
"We're confident that the BAe 146 will provide a cost effective and versatile platform for the ongoing atmospheric research carried out by the UK joint facility," said UMIST's Professor of Atmospheric Physics, Dr. Peter Jonas. "BAE SYSTEMS' bid offered an innovative solution to our requirement through their ability to offer the aircraft in a fully operational condition with all the personnel needed to support an aircraft flight whenever and wherever required."
The Met Office currently obtains its services from the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) at Boscombe Down using a C-130 Hercules aircraft.