IPHEx
IOP May 1-15 June 2014
Flight objectives, logistics,
and mission situational awareness
V 4/08/2014
Useful web sites
IHPEX Ops Portal GHRC
Field operations portal, planning docs,
data uploads etc.
https://fcportal.nsstc.nasa.gov/iphex/user
IPHEX Science Site Duke
http://iphex.pratt.duke.edu/
IPHEx Mission Tool Suite Airborne Sciences
(used for realtime aircraft tracking , flying
missions, situational awareness, Xchat
between platforms including ground radars
and mission ops)
http://mts.nasa.gov/home
Overarching NASA GPM Ground Validation (GV) Objectives
• Direct GV: Determine/Assess uncertainties in ground/GPM satellite QPE
• Physical GV: Physical process studies to test/refine/advance GPM physical retrieval
algorithms and reduce estimation uncertainty.
• Integrated Hydrologic GV: Above + Propagation of ground/GPM satellite estimation
uncertainties in water cycle/hydrologic applications
SPECIFIC GPM IPHEx IOP OBJECTIVES
1st GPM Post-Launch Campaign
1
Observations of precipitation properties and processes in the IPHEX region of complex
terrain to assess uncertainties in, and utility of satellite and ground-based Quantitative
Precipitation Estimates (QPE) in hydrologic modeling
2
Collect coincident ground, airborne, GPM Core satellite multi-frequency/parameter
radar vertical structure and radiometer brightness temperatures in a variety of
precipitation types** over complex terrain (“Summit to Sea”)
3
Profile in situ microphysical properties, with particular emphasis placed on the ice
phase; ACE/RADEX Piggyback objective includes profiles in weakly precipitating
cumulus and precipitating anvil ice over ocean
4
Select detailed sampling of stratiform melting layer profiles and microphysics
5
Ground-network observation/verification/calibration of multi-parameter radar –based
QPE and precipitation variability
6
Airborne multi-frequency radiometer/radar sampling of season-evolving and pre/poststorm changes in land-surface backscatter cross-section and surface emissivity studies.
IPHEx GPM Airborne Case Scorecard – ER 2 (~80 hrs), Citation (~40 hrs)
Mission type
Mission
Notes
Num
Land - precip
Coordinated pattern over
Pigeon/Catawba
Bowtie/racetrack for ER-2, stack for Citation,
preselected radials if possible, otherwise use
MTS
8-10
Coordinated pattern
within NPOL “wedge”
Bowtie/racetrack for ER-2, stack for Citation,
within 75 km range, use MTS to select radials
Coordinated pattern along Bowtie/racetrack for ER-2, stack for Citation,
other NEXRAD radial
within 75 km range, use MTS to select radials
Coordinated stacked legs
without ground radar
Ocean – precip Coordinated pattern legs
or ER-2 only ; near coastal
Need to stage NEXRAD if possible
Citation for
refueling
Coordinated stacked legs
in other precip of interest
(e.g. GPM underflight) or
ER-2 only
Surface/calibr
ation (can be
combined)
Clear air pattern
Ocean calibration with
buoy overflight
Bowtie/racetrack for ER-2, stack for Citation
Bowtie/racetrack for ER-2, stack for Citation,
use MTS to select radials, need to plan ahead
to negotiate airspace in restricted zones (3-day
lead)
2-3
Preselected waypoints during overpass, further
coordination via satellite images
Could be coordinated with an ACE mission
Preselected waypoints, clear & low humidity
highly preferred
2-3
ACE Ocean modules Similar to GPM
Draft Case Type Scorecard for Day-1
(spreadsheet contains one 31-day worksheet that can
be used for each period)
Mission Scientists should fill in for ER-2 and Citation columns; Ground Instrument
Scientist should fill in for NPOL/D3R/NOXP columns.
Transit flight science cases in and out for ER-2 can be categorized using above types as
well.
Planning Topics/FAQs 04/03/14
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Instrument locations and logistics (also see Ops Portal)
1.
Aircraft:
a)
ER-2: Warner Robbins AFB, Georgia; Contact Chris Miller for access to base; locations for lodging etc.
b)
Citation: Asheville Airport NC, Landmark Aviation; Mike Poellot and Wayne Schindler coordinate Landmark Access.
c)
Integration particulars (install, data transfer, test flights); 9 April CRS; 14 April HIWRAP/EXRAD, 21 April AMPR/CoSMIR, 25 April test flight
2.
Ground
a)
Surface: Disdro/gauge array- Duke/WFF/NOAA manage (most instruments in place; 2DVD placement remaining; some comms remaining)
b)
NPOL- Green Creek (35.20° N , 81.96° W) Position may adjust slightly (e.g., O[100m]) on setup
c)
NOXP- Pigeon Ridge (35.56o N, 82.91° W ) Position may adjust slightly on setup
d)
Personnel and Operations (schedule in progress; Google Docs)
How many days before campaign starts do people need to be in place ready to go? 2 - 5 days. Forecasts should begin third week in April
Ops center location:
a)
Citation: Hangar at Landmark Aviation, Asheville Airport; Phone TBC
b)
Offices leased at Landmark Aviation Asheville, Airport. Badges required; IPHEx Mission Science name list sent and these badges to be paid by GPM Project;
For all others, access night/day for all participants when entering with a badged person is fine; Marty Kretchman (Landmark Aviation owner).
c)
IT/internet/phone needs? 10 GB/s requested and available. Commercial phone will be provided in ops center and UND office. 3 Computers for ops.
d)
Furniture? Being rented.
e)
ER-2: Warner-Robbins AFB logistics (badging/access/ops: Contact Chris Miller for getting access to WR.
OPS: Support/updates
a.
Ground-based flight operations tool: Airborne Sciences Mission Tool Suite (MTS) for flight tracks and flight ops. Aaron Duley, ARC is contact.
b.
Current Radar: 88D feeds for regional radars are in MTS; has real time tracks updated with real-time neighborhood NEXRAD composite and real time
lightning, satellite etc.- Issues/changes/additions? Gibson-Ridge 88D radar analysis software on ops machines as well. MTS still in build- but looking good.
c.
Current Radio: DRFC HF/VHF. Back up WFF/GPM. Identify radio location on building (Marty Kretchman, Landmark Aviation host is helping with this)
d.
Radio comms: Current UND frequency planned 125.8 MHz, backup 123.45 MHz. HF radio being rented. Need to confirm ER-2 VHF frequency
e.
ER-2 data down using Inmarsat for data transfer 25 K limit; Instrument products (AMPR KMZ; housekeeping for others)
f.
Gibson-Ridge radar display/analysis licenses for 3 computers being purchased (solid real time radar analysis tool for ops- can use in addition to MTS):
Flight Ops Personnel/Communications model:
a)
Mission Ops: Always at least 2 Mission Scientists (MS), one flight coordinator (Jan N.), and one forecaster, on duty in Asheville at Landmark Aviation Ops
center. One forecaster will also support remote from NC State. Mission Science makes go/no go decisions on aircraft ops and interfaces with ground
instrument teams to ensure ground data collections continue as required.
b)
Flight Coordination: Jan N. stationed with two or more MS during ops. MS provides track request based on science and radar to Jan; Jan provides feedback
on any safety or other concern- Jan uses his MTS and radio (UND)/phone (ER-2) to relay tracks in appropriate coordinates to aircraft (both).
c)
Chris Miller (first half)/Chuck Irving (second half) serve as ER-2 mission management contacts at WRB.
d)
Communications from Ops to ground radars (NPOL/D3R, NOXP): Comms from Ops. Center to NPOL(D3R) and NOXP.
1.
Current: Radars will have mission cell phones. However, MTS X-Chat or Skype may work better during ops for specific requests (e.g., RHI’s); MTS
*should* run via web at NPOL to provide general sector ops guidance and there is a chat function on it as well. TBC on setup.
e)
Communications from Ops to WRB (ER-2 site): MS and Aircraft Ops/Instrument staff at WRB communicate via Current- phone, MTS chat.
OPS: Limits for aircraft - ER-2 ops at 65 kft ; not a concern for the most part. Racetracks/bow ties/lines are best ops scenario for ER-2. For Citation, 35 dBZ has
been used in the past but is not a hard fast rule as it depends on cloud structure in column. Offshore activity for UND requires 30 minute check in with FAA by VHF
radio. Citation offshore- 200 nm (350 km) out from coast will equate to about 1.5 hours on station. Cf. attached ER-2 operating constraints with this document.
Planning Topics/FAQs (Continued)
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
ATC/Center Pattern conflicts: There are some. It is a busy airspace. Continue to clarify and work with Wayne /JAN with CLT and ATL. Need to confirm ops in Gulf
Stream box (Citation/ER-2) for different FAA Centers involved (Chris/Wayne). Wayne/Jan travel to ATL/CLT in early/mid April. We will need to plan 2-3 days
outward for offshore restricted airspace use.
a)
Military SUA aircraft ops: Large amount of restricted airspace (RA) off coast (Hatteras and Pamlico MOA’s, plus a few others )- we will need to coordinate
with military. We cannot operate in RA when military is (generally daylight hours, weekdays). We can transit through airspace to unrestricted (~200 km
east of Carolina coast) or possibly operate at night when military is not flying. Coordination here via Wayne/Jan communications with centers.
Citation position data via REVEAL input to MTS. Need to test/verify. Citation should have Xchat capability but we will need to test this compared to radio comms as
it is a new mode of operation for UND.
Daily reporting requirments
a)
Daily mission status and operations reports are expected from Mission Science, Aircraft, Ground-Instrument teams. Protocol for MS inputs? OPEN- we
need to standardize a template (prior to experiment)
b)
Aircraft Mission Managers must input daily flight reports to SOFRS.
c)
Portal sections will be available for forecast briefing material as well and should be entered/uploaded there.
d)
Portal account signup with ITSC folks at the GHRC DAAC. Dashboard access for report submission and other functions will be set up and participants
provided usernames and passwords to enter particular portions of portal (e.g., Mission Scientist, Forecaster, Platform or instrument scientist etc.).
Research Radar (s) Scanning:
a)
NPOL/D3R: Near/far sector PPI volumes (45 or 90 degree wide azimuth coverage), and 15 Deg. wide RHI-sector for NPOL/D3R; near sector/RHI sector for
D3R. Will adapt sequence of full/sector volume and then sector RHI for GPM Core overpass with precipitation.
b)
NOXP will implement continuous full PPI volume (0.1 to 19.5 degrees) with 5-minute cycle– RHI possible, but PPI volume “bread and butter” scan for NOXP.
c)
Situational: Radars will monitor for weather; NPOL 24/7 ops for ground and airborne ops; D3R/NOXP- event-targeted ground/air operations. MTS will be
monitored by radar sites during flight operations so that radar scientist can adapt/coordinate scanning. Communications between Mission Ops and Radars
can occur via either MTS Chat, Skype or phone (final configuration determined during setup; Radars will have cell phone comms either way.
d)
Current: NPOL (D3R)/NOXP for Science- imagery possible for use to supplement flight ops.
Soundings:
a)
61 Total sondes available. Intensive 4-6/day launches planned from UNCA Asheville for big events; 3 soundings out on Piedmont for clear air flights. Must
thread into ops decision. Still some work on coordination needed here.
b)
Two DOE 3-channel Radiometers in Pigeon at Maggie Valley and Purchase Knob (T/RH/CLW profiles)
c)
NOAA 915 + RASS in Catawba Watershed
d)
Sondes currently not in GTS- but means to do so is being investigated; not critical for campaign, but useful.
Data and IT
a)
GHRC Data/ops Portal
b)
MTS products: Regional 88D radar composite radar reflectivity, lightning, GOES vis/IR, GPM Core overpasses, HRRR,
c)
GPM Core overpass times and swaths; completed and available via multiple paths (MTS, LaRC, JAXA, GPM GV Tier-1 site)
Other participants:
a)
SLAP lights for soil moisture will occur independently out of LaRC (Ed Kim GSFC/ coordinating with Ana Barros).
b)
ACHIEVE W-band Radar (vertically pointing) and Aerosol instrumentation will be located with MWR, 2DVD and MRR at Maggie Valley
Personnel Lodging logistics
a)
Asheville Airport: Room rate established at Fairfield Inn, Asheville Airport(12-15 rooms). Must CALL the hotel and ask for “Corporate NASA IPHEx rate”equivalent to government rate (do not ask for “gov rate”). Otherwise, plentiful rooms in Asheville for ground instrument folks so worse case, participants
take care of there.
b)
UND Citation: Prior arrangement for lodging at Hampton Inn and Suites, Asheville Airport.
c)
NPOL/D3R. Greenville-Spartenburg- plenty of hotels . Holiday Inn Express good according to Michael Watson.
d)
Warner-Robbins: Currently using Candlewood Suites (contact Chris Miller)
Situational Awareness during
Missions
Part 1: Geography and assets
Broader Ops area with WSR-88D radar locations indicated. Shown are 1) Citation/ER-2 primary ops area in orange/pink box near Asheville; 2) ER-2 800
km and 1200 km range circles (red); 3) offshore target area for combined or ER-2 only ops. WSR-88D radar locations indicated by yellow push-pin
markers.
Over land we are targeting area (1) as a priority for coordination. Area (3) is a priority for offshore ops with Citation.
For area (2; ER-2 range rings) this is a proposed broader region over which we could operate ER-2 with reasonable on station time assuming a 6-hour
total mission. 800 km would give us roughly 3 hours on station and 1200 km would give us roughly 2 hours.
Another view. Land watershed flight ops box (larger box being worked) and ocean box shown
(white box represents area outside of military SUA and within Citation range for ops). NOXP 75
km range ring (NOXP located in Pigeon; max range will be 111 km) in white, NPOL 25 km range
rings (yellow) out to 125 km. 30 n mile CLT control zone in red. WRB ER-2 base indicated in GA.
Zoom from slide 1. Primary ops area. Pigeon is western basin in white outline- main
instrumentation focus. Disdrometer ray extending from NPOL/D3R location is shown
as colored squares. Catawba is upper northern basin. NOAA HMT Profilers/surface
sites exist in southwest extension of Catawba(northeast of Asheville).
More detail. More, but not even close to all, surface instruments around/within Pigeon basin
shown and NOAA sites in Catawba. Red bold line coming out of CLT is the Johns-Burls-Shine
approach vector into CLT- we need to stay south west (hence aircraft ops box cutoff north of
Pigeon basin- note this box may extend farther west than indicated). Flight lines along radar
radials or along disdrometer lines are desired (as wx permits….fly the weather either way).
NASA Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment (IPHEx): Requested flight
operations box (white- outside W122); Orange- larger area – for consideration if possible
35.63 N
74.93 W
35.10 N
72.69 W
35.38 N
70.68 W
34.44 N
71.96 W
31.99 N
80.67 W
31.99 N
77.00 W
31.70 N
31.70 N 75.55 W
75.55 W
Lat/Lons for key locations
1. Asheville Airport Ops Center
2. Warner-Robbins AFB ER-2
3. NPOL/D3R Radar
4. Pigeon NOXP Radar
5. Pigeon Maggie Valley Site
6. Pigeon Purchase Knob Site
7. Charlotte International Airport
8. KGSP WSR 88D
9. KMRX WSR 88D
10. KCLX WSR 88D
11. KRAX WSR 88D
12. KLTX WSR 88D
13. KMHX WSR 88D
14. KCAE WSR 88D
35.443
32.640
35.196
35.564
35.520
35.586
35.215
34.883
36.169
32.656
35.666
33.989
34.776
33.949
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
82.541
83.592
82.964
82.910
83.095
83.072
80.958
82.220
83.402
82.042
78.490
78.429
76.876
81.118
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
High Altitude and in the Column: GPM Airborne Assets in IPHEX
GPM Core Satellite “Simulator”
In Situ MIcrophysics
• NASA ER-2: Satellite • UND Citation
simulator
• Microphysics
• 80 flight hours
• 60 flight hours
• Base: Warner• Base: TBD
Robbins AFB, Georgia
Instrument**
AMPR H+V (Radiometer)
Footprint (@20 km)
CoSMIR H+V (Radiometer)
Footprint (@20 km
HIWRAP
(Radar)
Footprint (@20 km)
EXRAD
(Radar)
Footprint (@20 km)
CRS
(Radar)
Footprint (@20 km)
LIP (Lightning)
Instrument
Characteristics
10.7, 19.35, 37.1, 85.5 GHz
2.8 km (10.7-19.35 GHz) , 1.5
km (37.1 GHz), 0.6 km(85.5
GHz)
37, 89, 165.5, 183.3+/-1,
183.3+/-3, 183.3+/-8 GHz
1.4 km
13.91/13.35
GHz,
35.56/33.72 GHz
1 km Ku / 420 m Ka (2.9o Ku,
1.2o Ka)
9.4 GHz (nadir); 9.6 GHz
(scanning)
1.2 km (3o beamwidth)
94.15 GHz (dual-polarized)
~0.24 km
(0.6o x
beamwidth)
Lightning/electric field
Measurement
King
PMS 2D-C/2D-S
Cloud liquid water
Cloud and precipitation
particle spectra
HVPS-3
Precipitation spectra
CPI
Cloud particle imager
CSI
Total Water (ACE add-on)
CDP
Nevzorov
Rosemount icing
probe
CN
Cloud particle spectra
Total water content
Supercooled water
Aerosols (CN/CCN)
0.8o
W. Petersen,
Petersen, PMM
Science Team Meeting, Oct. 25-29, 2009, Salt Lake City, Utah
W.
walt.petersen@nasa.gov
15
IPHEx flight science requirements (Selected during daily science discussions)
Coordinated flights with ER-2, Citation
• ER-2 flying straight and level along ~60-75 km legs (racetrack, dogbone, bowtie); extend legs
to over land ahead of/behind precipitation when possible.
• Citation flying in tight coordination with ER-2 with straight and level along ~25-40 km legs
(primarily in ice from 27 kft to within, just below melting layer 10-12 kft), spirals minimized; 3-5
legs per profile. Emphasis on linear legs directly under ER-2
• Preferably along radials of radars, within 100 km range (NPOL/D3R, NOXP, NEXRAD) or
parallel to GPM overpass tracks
• Over campaign-focus hydrologic basins (e.g., Pigeon or Catawba), over disdrometer runs or
along radar radials preferred as possible.
• Over NC Coastal/Gulf Stream (GPM and ACE missions)
ER-2 only flights
• Out of range of Citation ops (water, land) for GPM overpasses, Gulf Stream etc.
• In lieu/exclusive of Citation if situation warrants- especially for overpasses.
• Flying targets of interest, preferably along radials of radars of opportunity
Citation only flights (infrequent)
• Microphysical profiling flights in targets of opportunity and focused over basins/terrain.
• Preferably stacked legs as above along radials of radars, within 100 km range (NOXP,
NPOL/D3R, NEXRAD) or parallel to GPM overpass tracks
Clear air/calibration flights for ER-2
• Calibration flights over water south of Wilmington, NC over buoys in clear air
• Clear air land flights (fixed coords) for land surface modeling over designated areas of the
Pigeon toward the southeast- shoot for clear and dry (low humidity) periods.
• These *could* be combined into one mission if scheduling permits.
• Land Surface module can also/should be used while dwelling on station awaiting precipitation.
Situational Awareness during
Missions
Part 2: Patterns, Timing, flight
restrictions/information
ER-2 transit times and waypoints
0:40
from
WRB
to
AVL
climb
to 60kft
(+0:12
to 65kft)
AVL
0:30
from
AVL
to
10 nm
south
Southport, NC
WRB
1:00 from 10 nm south Southport, NC to WRB
Dean Neeley
Chris Miller
ER-2 Racetrack (60 km @ 65 kft)
Citation Stacked Legs (30 km 12-24 kft)
Mission Tool Suite (MTS) can easily set up these legs
with respect to radars -- Jan can translate into pilot’s language for us as in MC3E
Example* Coordinated Flight Patterns
• ER-2 Level
racetrack legs
(50-75 km length)
• ER-2 FL650 (over
Citation along
radar radial)
• Citation: ~5 altstack along radar
radial; 25 km
legs; just below
melting level
from ~FL120
(well above
terrain) to FL250
*Note: Spirals *may*
be very infrequently
used if even allowed.
Still TBD.
Example* Coordinated Flight Patterns
BOWTIE FLIGHT PLAN
Developing/Isolated
Convection/Stratiform
Plan view
Radar
i.e., if racetracks are too wide to
cover precipitation
• Citation stacked legs ~5 altstack along radar radial; 20-30
km legs; just below melting level
from ~FL120 (well above terrain)
to FL250
Vertical view
• ER-2 bowtie, 40-60 km
(FL650)
*Note: Spirals *may*
be very infrequently
used if even allowed.
Still TBD.
ER2
UND
Clear Air Pattern (Fixed)
Clear air land surface mission with
predefined lawnmower pattern over
Pigeon and Catawba plus adjacent
Piedmont
(~30 km width between legs; ~5 km
swath overlap)
Predefined waypoints
Radar & Microwave Radiometer Calibration Loop
Buoy Calibration:
•
•
•
•
•
Fly over ocean buoys, straight and level
Clear conditions (minimal cloud)
Maintain at least 20-25km distance from coastline
to avoid any land contamination at AMPR/CoSMIR
maximum scan angles
Maneuver for nadir pointing radars:
–
Very slow +20 to -20 degree roll in vicinity
but not over buoys.
–
Radars surface scatter is invariant to ocean
winds at about 10 degrees incidence angle.
Buoys should be checked before flight since they are
not always reporting.
If GPM overpass occurs during clear period
Buoys of Interest (not all must be sampled in one flight) •
•
•
•
•
•
•
41033
41004
41013
41037
41036
41109
32.270N
32.501N
33.436N
33.988N
34.207N
34.484N
80.400W
79.099W
77.743W
77.363W
76.949W
77.300W
•
Under fly GPM for 50-100 km over ocean with
clear conditions.
Useful for all instruments
Precipitation climatology
Designed with the radar climatology of Booth and Parker (MS Thesis)
Convection develops on the ridges early in the afternoon (15-18 UTC) and is likely
isolated, relatively weak, provides some opportunity for in situ sampling. Drizzle?
Convection grows upscale in the lee as it propagates to the east, convection gets
better organized and produces stratiform rain that can be sampled into the late
afternoon and evening.
Along the coast, sea breeze convection and isolated thunderstorms develop in
early and late afternoon, respectively. These cells may become organized, offering
opportunities for sampling with Citation and ER-2.
Offshore, there is an overnight/early morning maximum in convection. This can be
sampled with ER-2 and possibly the Citation close to shore.
Frontal systems from the west may organize precipitation and allow for larger
sampling regions.
A tropical system may enter the region, although it is somewhat unlikely in MayJune. If it does, it will provide extensive precipitation coverage.
Orographic/Lee Region: Background is June Convective Climatology (15-21 UTC)
CLIMO:
Convection fires
on ridges early
afternoon (1518 UTC), later
in lee (18-21
UTC),
propagates east
Example
~25 km
flight leg
along
NPOL,
NOXP radial
over Pigeon
IGNORE BIG RED BOX.
Over Ocean: Background is June Convective Climatology (15-21 UTC)
GPM Nadir Track
CLIMO: Inferred
convective
maximum
overnight, early
morning
offshore
Example
~25 km
coordinated
flight leg
along KLTX
radial
Military
Airspace
Example ER-2 (w/Citation) GPM
overpass flight
Could also be basis for clear air flight
w/o precip
Duty Day and Crew Rest
Aircrew duty time begins when a crewmember reports to his/her designated place of
duty and ends when the aircraft is parked and shutdown. Aircrew rest begins at the
end of all duties. Ground crew duty day begins when they leave hotel and ends when
they return.
– Maximum Duty Day
•
ER-2 Pilot and Mobile Pilot: 12 hours
•
ER-2 Ground Crew: 12 hours hours (14 *possible* on fly days but not desired) . The 14 hour fly
day is allowed only if the OT has prior approval of supervisor, the crew will be on standby most of the
day, and there is somewhere they can go that is climate controlled .
•
Crew duty day may be extended by approval of DFRC Center Director
– Ground Crew Overtime (OT) Limitations
•
OT is limited by Fatigue Risk Management requirements as stated in document DCP-X-046.
•
Maximum hours worked is 60 total hours per person per week. This equates to a nominal 6 day work
week with three 12 hour flight days and three 8 hour no-fly days. This limit may be exceeded with
•
OT must be approved in advance by Branch Chiefs
•
No more than 7 consecutive days without one day off
– Minimum Crew Rest
•
ER-2 Pilot, Mobile Pilot: Crewmembers must have at least twelve hours off duty after completing all
postflight activities prior to being required for a subsequent flight (either ground or flight duties)
•
ER-2 Ground Crew: The rest period between duty days must be a minimum of 10 hours starting from
the end of duty
27
Flight Duration Parameters
Fatigue associated with flight in pressure suits and at high cabin altitudes is
very insidious and accelerated by less than ideal crew rest prior to flight.
The following restrictions apply to high altitude pressure suit flights:
– ER-2 Flights longer than 8.0 hours require concurrence of the mission pilot and
designated flight monitor (mobile). The approval process requires a thorough
review of the considerations below to ensure that mission safety is not
jeopardized.
– Pilots flying ER-2 missions of 9.0 hours or more will be given the following
physiological recovery time:
• First day after the flight – no duties.
• Second day after the flight – no pressure suit flights
•
Pilots will make a judgment if any other constraints are applicable. These
constraints would be based on factors such as: adequate crew rest, duties
between flights, length, complexity and timing of flights, previous levels of
flight activity, takeoff and recovery weather, mission justification, and
personal issues. Generally, with one pilot deployed, consecutive ER-2
flight days are limited to 3 without additional pilot support.
28
ER-2 At Warner Robbins AFB GA.
ER-2 No Fly- Local WX Constraints
25 knots maximum steady or 35 gusts
regardless of direction (ejection seat limit)
15 knot maximum crosswind
ER-2 hangared at
ANG
1/4 mile minimum visibility
Lightning within 5 NM - No taxi, seek shelter
Robins noise abatement daily 2200L - 0600L –
may/may not affect- being worked
Conditions forecast to be out of limits at
landing- no fly.
Not clear about weather that is forecasted to
come and go (TBC)
Citation Alternate Landing Locations (within 90 nautical miles of AVL)
Airport ID
Location
Direction from
AVL
Runway/Length
Approaches
Jet A
$/gal.
KTRI
010° 63nm
5/23
9/27
8,000 ft.
4,442 ft.
ILS 5, 23
GPS 5,23,9,27
6.35
348° 47nm
5/23
6001 ft.
GPS 5
6.15
292° 74nm
5L/23R 9005 ft.
5R/23L 9000 ft.
6.81
273° 99nm
2/20
ILS 5L, 23R
GPS 5L, 23R, 5R, 23L
VOR 23L, 23R
GPS 2/20
192° 57nm
5/23 6002 ft.
17/35 4996 ft.
5.43
158° 36nm
4/22 11,000 ft.
ILS 5
GPS 5, 17, 23, 35
VOR 5
ILS 4,22
GPS 4, 22
103° 79nm
36L/18R 9,000 ft.
36C/18C 10,000 ft.
36R/18L 8,676 ft.
5/23
7,502 ft.
ILS/GPS
5, 18C, 18L, 18R, 23, 36, 4,
22
6.01
173° 41nm
5/23
ILS 5
GPS 5,23
5.35
Tri-Cities, TN
KGCY
Greeneville, TN
KTYS
Knoxville, TN
KMMI
6450 ft.
5.10
Athens, TN
KAND
Anderson, SC
KGSP
Greer, SC
KCLT
Charlotte, NC
KGYH
Greenville, SC
Stevens Aviation
Citation Repair Station
8,000 ft.
5.97
Daily Ops
Daily Weather and Ops Briefing (1400 UTC) 10:00 EDT
Phone: 1-866-763-8998 Passcode 1336336
Visuals: Adobe Connect ; email invite
Ops Portal:
Plan of the day, forecasts, mission science summary, instrument status reports on
GHRC IPHEx Portal. https://fcportal.nsstc.nasa.gov/iphex/user
Airborne Sciences (SOFRS): Aircraft Mission Manager Reports due in SOFRS after each
flight
https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/sofrs
Flight operations Mission Tool Suite: http://mts.nasa.gov/home
Select IPHEX desktop
Primary Contacts:
Mission Scientist, Mission Manager, Forecaster, Instrument Contacts/Phones: (TBC; list
provided before experiment begins
Notional Daily Ops Flow Schedule (starting from hour 0:00);
Here, for example, there will be an ER-2 (Citation) take-off at 1400 (1430) LST for 6.5 (3.5) hour mission.
Red- Key event for action, TO, Landing; Green Wx/Science; Black ER-2 Project Ops; Lt. Blue: ER-2 Crew; Lt. Purple: Schedule
“slop”; NOTE THIS DEPENDS TOTALLY ON FLIGHT OPS CONDUCTED ON DAY-0- only the 10:00 AM EDT Weather brief is fixed.
Fly Decision for ER-2
ER-2
Fly
Rule
HIWRAP
DOWN
NO
FLY
X
CoSMIR
DOWN
CoSMIR UP
AMPR
DOWN
(OCEAN)
EXRAD or
CRS DOWN
(NPOL/D3R/
NOXP)
UND down < 2
days; Probe
down* < 2 days
UND down > 2
days; Probe
down > 2 days
X
X
b,c
b
Xa (b,c)
b,c
a For precip missions where expected down time of UND is very short; i.e., implication
is that UND aircraft or an “important” probe can be fixed quickly. Early in campaign
(first 1-2 weeks TBC), unless the weather is *very* compelling (MS discretion) or
GPM overpass with precip and in range; ER-2 NO FLY; After first two weeks, this
section no longer applies- lines (b) and (c) below apply.
b Mission Science discretion (evolves with campaign duration, nature of the problem,
weather at hand, and overpass situation);
c Ocean “alternate” for “ER-2-only” flights should be considered if HIWRAP, CoSMIR
and AMPR are all up and weather situation/need warrants.
Situational Awareness during
Missions
Part 3: Satellite overpass
coordination
GPM Groundtracks May 01 – June 15 2014
(But get specifics from Web- examples follow)
Example of Overpass Site for GPM GV : Tier-1 sites + IPHEX
Click on IPHEX NPOL or OFFSHORE Links shown below on map
http://gpm-gv.gsfc.nasa.gov/Tier1/
First you will see at the top a 31-Day
forecast of overpasses (general
guidance- TLE’s need to updated every
few days really).
Scrolling down the page you will then
see updated overpass times computed
with current TLEs, with images for
next 5-days out. Click on specific
image to magnify
Example overpass image
(centered on NPOL radar site,
IPHEX)
In Image the time of closet point
of the nadir track is shown and
its azimuth from the NPOL radar.
The text above has specific
information including the lat/lon
of closest point, range, bearing,
and also the bearing of satellite
movement (e.g., northeastward
~ 30 degrees on an ascending
overpass, southeastward at
~150 degrees on a descending
overpass)
Note that the main overpass
page has information on what is
in the text.
Also- note there is map link for
the offshore box as well
Situational Awareness
Missions
Part 4: ER-2 Transit
(potential GPM Overpass or other
precipitation sampling consideration
to/from WRB)
ER-2 Transit, May 1, 2014: California, Arizona, New Mexico
110 W
115 W
35 N
ER-2 Transit, May 1, 2014: New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas
95 W
100 W
35 N
ER-2 Transit, May 1, 2014: Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
80 W
90 W
35 N
30 N
WX on Transit: ~1-hour to sample along transit route- can target GPM overpass if possible
else other precip along path.
Can be used with
Example 4/8/14
GPM Core
Forecast:
overpass tool on
GFS 08/0000 UTC
Tier-1 site or LaRC
VT 08/2100UTC
site, then MTS to
Would suggest
monitor.
being over
TN/MS around
2130 UTC
MTS Radar and Vis
Overpass of region
~22:12 UTC