1. NOAA Airborne Platforms n Mission Related – All NOAA airborne platforms perform some type of dedicated task defined by NOAAs mission n Not for General Use – Participation in non-NOAA field campaigns depends on relationship to NOAA’s mission n Flight Hour Allocation – By fleet allocation committee according to priorities set by budget process (PPBES) n Instrumentation – Generally specific to mission and may or may not be available for general use. Some flexibility in mounting PI-specific sensors on most platforms n Availability – Most platforms have dedicated time-blocks set aside for specific projects (e.g., hurricane research & reconnaisance) n General Information – http://www.aoc.noaa.gov/aircraft.htm n Mission Related – All NOAA airborne platforms perform some type of dedicated task defined by NOAAs mission n Not for General Use – Participation in non-NOAA field campaigns depends on relationship to NOAA’s mission n Flight Hour Allocation – By fleet allocation committee according to priorities set by budget process (PPBES) n Instrumentation – Generally specific to mission and may or may not be available for general use. Some flexibility in mounting PI-specific sensors on most platforms n Availability – Most platforms have dedicated time-blocks set aside for specific projects (e.g., hurricane research & reconnaisance) n General Information – http://www.aoc.noaa.gov/aircraft.htm

2. Two WP-3D “Orion” Turboprops Premier mesoscale weather & air quality research platform for NOAA’s Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research Acquired for hurricane research (late 1970s), used in mesoscale convective systems in mid-1980s Some hurricane reconnaissance tasking Used in many joint NSF-NOAA projects (e.g., BAMEX, MAP, TOGA/COARE, etc.) INS & GPS position & winds Rosemount in-situ & CO 2 radiometric temperature GPS dropsondes LF PPI & tail RHI scan Doppler radar 2D-C & 2D-P imaging cloud physics probes Main Instrumentation Ceiling: ~27,000 ft Endurance: ~9.5-11.5 hours (1 hr fuel reserve) Range: ~2500-3800 n mi. (1 hr fuel reserve) Crew: ~19 max Operational Airspeed: 170-250 knots IAS Ceiling: ~27,000 ft Endurance: ~9.5-11.5 hours (1 hr fuel reserve) Range: ~2500-3800 n mi. (1 hr fuel reserve) Crew: ~19 max Operational Airspeed: 170-250 knots IAS

3. High-altitude dropsonde platform High-altitude dropsonde platform Used primarily for National Weather Service hurricane synoptic flow & winter storm targeted dropsonde missions Used primarily for National Weather Service hurricane synoptic flow & winter storm targeted dropsonde missions Used in a few NSF programs (e.g., FASTEX, THORPEX) Used in a few NSF programs (e.g., FASTEX, THORPEX) High-altitude dropsonde platform High-altitude dropsonde platform Used primarily for National Weather Service hurricane synoptic flow & winter storm targeted dropsonde missions Used primarily for National Weather Service hurricane synoptic flow & winter storm targeted dropsonde missions Used in a few NSF programs (e.g., FASTEX, THORPEX) Used in a few NSF programs (e.g., FASTEX, THORPEX) Gulfstream G-IV GPS Dropsonde System (NCAR built) Limited flight level data GPS dropsondes Nose C-band weather avoidance radar Main Instrumentation Ceiling: ~45,000 ft Endurance: ~8.75 hours (1hr fuel reserve) Range: ~3800 n mi. (1 hr reserve fuel) Crew: 8 max Operational Airspeed: 440-460 knots true Ceiling: ~45,000 ft Endurance: ~8.75 hours (1hr fuel reserve) Range: ~3800 n mi. (1 hr reserve fuel) Crew: 8 max Operational Airspeed: 440-460 knots true

4. Cessna Citation II Coastal remote sensing imaging platform for National Geodetic Survey Used primarily for updating shoreline features on NOAA’s nautical charts Used in hurricane & World Trade Center damage assessment. Coastal remote sensing imaging platform for National Geodetic Survey Used primarily for updating shoreline features on NOAA’s nautical charts Used in hurricane & World Trade Center damage assessment. Large format aerial photography as well as data collection for digital cameras, hyperspectral, multispectral, and LIDAR systems. Dropsonde capable Main Instrumentation Ceiling: ~45,000 ft Endurance: ~5 hours Range: ~1610 n mi. Crew: 6 max Operational Airspeed: 350 knots true Ceiling: ~45,000 ft Endurance: ~5 hours Range: ~1610 n mi. Crew: 6 max Operational Airspeed: 350 knots true

5. Gulfstream Turbo Commander Western U.S. snow surveys for National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center & charting for National Geodic Survey Measurements of natural terrestrial gamma radiation emitted from the potassium, thorium, and uranium radioisotopes in the upper 20 cm of soil. Measurements of natural terrestrial gamma radiation emitted from the potassium, thorium, and uranium radioisotopes in the upper 20 cm of soil. 2170 flight lines 15-20 km long by 300 m wide. Western U.S. snow surveys for National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center & charting for National Geodic Survey Measurements of natural terrestrial gamma radiation emitted from the potassium, thorium, and uranium radioisotopes in the upper 20 cm of soil. Measurements of natural terrestrial gamma radiation emitted from the potassium, thorium, and uranium radioisotopes in the upper 20 cm of soil. 2170 flight lines 15-20 km long by 300 m wide. Large format aerial photography. Gamma radiation detectors Multi-spectral scanner Main Instrumentation Ceiling: ~31,000 ft Endurance: ~5.4 hours (1 hr fuel reserve) Range: ~1080 n mi. (1 hr fuel reserve) Crew: 7 max Operational Airspeed: 120-250 knots true Ceiling: ~31,000 ft Endurance: ~5.4 hours (1 hr fuel reserve) Range: ~1080 n mi. (1 hr fuel reserve) Crew: 7 max Operational Airspeed: 120-250 knots true

6. Rockwell Aero Commander Eastern U.S. snow surveys for National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center & charting for National Geodic Survey. Utilized primarily as aerial survey platform for visual verification of aeronautical charts, high-resolution aerial photography. Has been used in biological investigations, such as algal bloom measurements and sea turtle population assessments, and post- hurricane and severe flood damage assessment photography. Eastern U.S. snow surveys for National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center & charting for National Geodic Survey. Utilized primarily as aerial survey platform for visual verification of aeronautical charts, high-resolution aerial photography. Has been used in biological investigations, such as algal bloom measurements and sea turtle population assessments, and post- hurricane and severe flood damage assessment photography. Large format aerial photography. Gamma radiation detectors Multi-spectral scanner Main Instrumentation Ceiling: ~12,500 ft Endurance: ~6 hour Range: ~860 n mi. Crew: 5 max Operational Airspeed: 90-150 knots true Ceiling: ~12,500 ft Endurance: ~6 hour Range: ~860 n mi. Crew: 5 max Operational Airspeed: 90-150 knots true

7. DeHavilland Twin Otter Fish survey for National Marine Fishery Service. Atmospheric boundary layer chemistry sampling for Air Resources Laboratory. Coastal erosion studies using LIDAR Ocean organic pigments (chlorophyll and disolved organic matter). Fish survey for National Marine Fishery Service. Atmospheric boundary layer chemistry sampling for Air Resources Laboratory. Coastal erosion studies using LIDAR Ocean organic pigments (chlorophyll and disolved organic matter). Aerial photography. Vertical eddy fluxes of T, q, and CO 2 Air chemistry sampling (NO, NO x, NO y, SO 2, O 3, CO, and reactive hydrocarbons (no internal fuel tank) Dye-marker drop tube Airborne LIDAR Main Instrumentation Ceiling: ~12,500 ft Endurance: ~7 hour (with internal 1000 lbs auxiliary fuel tank) Range: ~565 n mi. Crew: 8 max Operational Airspeed: 110 knots true Ceiling: ~12,500 ft Endurance: ~7 hour (with internal 1000 lbs auxiliary fuel tank) Range: ~565 n mi. Crew: 8 max Operational Airspeed: 110 knots true

8. Lake Seawolf Biological surveys including red drum, sea turtle and marine mammal surveys, as well as on site terrain observations. Patrol aircraft for Channel Islands & Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries. Emergency response for oil spills & assess man-made damage to sanctuaries Biological surveys including red drum, sea turtle and marine mammal surveys, as well as on site terrain observations. Patrol aircraft for Channel Islands & Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries. Emergency response for oil spills & assess man-made damage to sanctuaries Bubble windows on each side. Wing camera pod Main Instrumentation Ceiling: ~12,500 ft Endurance: ~12 hour (with internal 1000 lbs auxiliary fuel tank) Range: ~1500 n mi. Crew: 4 max Operational Airspeed: 120 knots true Ceiling: ~12,500 ft Endurance: ~12 hour (with internal 1000 lbs auxiliary fuel tank) Range: ~1500 n mi. Crew: 4 max Operational Airspeed: 120 knots true