1 NEON sortie April/May 2006 Goal: Primary: Fly infra-red camera (IIR) for NEON validation, i.e. measure the infra-red signature/contrast RUNWAY vs. GRASS (under various atmospheric conditions) Secondary: Take photos of a ship & ship wakes with the IR camera Conditions/Timing: Clear-Skies + Around Lunchtime (for max. IR contrast) Up to 3 dedicated flights of 4.5 hours (or more shorter flights) Key Instrumentation: IR camera ! Met (RH, T) ! ARIES, Heimann, [SWS] Aerosol (PCASP, PSAP, Neph) Andreas Keil, 20 April 2006

2 It CAN work !!! Niamey runway

3 Royal Air Force Stations: RAF St Mawgan Wattisham Airfield Exeter Cranfield

4 Wattisham Airfield Should always be available

5 RAF St Mawgan Not available: April & 3rd week of May Combine with Ship & Ship Wake task!

6 NEON Sortie Time Height 10,000 ft 3,000 ft Extra tasks: ships & ship wakes 1,000 ft 5,000 ft ≈2.5h M/A 2M/A 1 V/P 1 V/P 2 V/P = “fast” vertical profile M/A = missed approach over runway HAL = “Heimann-ARIES loop” ≈0.5 hup to 1.5h 500 ft HAL LandingTake off 500 ft HAL Priority task: over or nearby runway

7 IIR Important: Wavelength range: 8 – 9.2 microns Calibration! (Joss) IR video output (about 25 frames/second?!) Incorporates a spotter camera Field of View (FoV): 45, 23 or 11 degrees depending on lens fitted Mounted in Large Radiometer Blister (DEIMOS position)  view up to 35 deg below the horizontal Record both! Take 11! Fly accordingly!

8 Runway Grass Keep runway in FoV ! - side view - ARIES IR cam + ARIES 35 deg

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10 EXCEL sheet for conversion + table (Example for IR camera = 35 degrees down from horizontal) Ideal flight heights for NEON Trial (marked X) Flight Height (ft) nautical miles - Distance Flight Height (km)km - Distance statute miles - Distance IIR viewing distance (km) missed approach X X X X X (X)

11 Runway Grass “20-degree approach” - top view - Grass Flights along runway with about 20 deg angle to make sure to get runway in FoV of the IR camera ! (ala Joss’ Africa Experience) IR Viewing direction IR Viewing area

12 NEON Sortie Time Height 10,000 ft 3,000 ft Extra tasks: ships & ship wakes 1,000 ft 5,000 ft ≈2.5h M/A 2M/A 1 V/P 1 V/P 2 V/P = “fast” vertical profile M/A = missed approach over runway HAL = “Heimann-ARIES loop” ≈0.5 hup to 1.5h 500 ft HAL LandingTake off 500 ft HAL Priority task: over or nearby runway

13 Runway HAL (Heimann-ARIES loop), 500 ft Grass ARIES down (max. resolution), Heimann measuring ARIES up, Heimann calibration “FAAMy” IR cam Followed by ARIES calib

14 Thanks in advance to … The weather!?? The mission scientist! The pilots and navigators!