The UK's Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) operates Europe's largest flying lab, which is improving our understanding of challenges like air pollution, climate change and extreme weather.
The UK's Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) operates Europe's largest flying lab, which is improving our understanding of challenges like air pollution, climate change and extreme weather.
Courtesy FAAM
During research flights, the aircraft can carry up to 18 scientists. Rebecca Carling works surrounded by instrument racks that store specialized scientific equipment.
During research flights, the aircraft can carry up to 18 scientists. Rebecca Carling works surrounded by instrument racks that store specialized scientific equipment.
Courtesy FAAM
The aircraft is equipped with cutting-edge technology including remote sensors and and dropsondes, which collect atmosphere data.
The aircraft is equipped with cutting-edge technology including remote sensors and and dropsondes, which collect atmosphere data.
Courtesy FAAM
The plane can fly as high as 35,000 feet, and as low as 50 feet above the sea.
The plane can fly as high as 35,000 feet, and as low as 50 feet above the sea.
Courtesy FAAM
Its design has been optimized to minimize risks from low flying. It has a high wing structure to add stability and lift its engines away from the ground. Short takeoff and landing capabilities make it easier to access smaller airports and remote locations.
Its design has been optimized to minimize risks from low flying. It has a high wing structure to add stability and lift its engines away from the ground. Short takeoff and landing capabilities make it easier to access smaller airports and remote locations.
Courtesy FAAM
The lab conducts research into atmospheric conditions. Freya Lumb works onboard the aircraft during a mission to observe the properties of ice clouds.
The lab conducts research into atmospheric conditions. Freya Lumb works onboard the aircraft during a mission to observe the properties of ice clouds.
Courtesy FAAM
The plane carries around four tons of research equipment. This air motion instrument is fitted to the aircraft's nose, and measures wind turbulence in three dimensions.
The plane carries around four tons of research equipment. This air motion instrument is fitted to the aircraft's nose, and measures wind turbulence in three dimensions.
Courtesy FAAM
These devices collect particulate samples onto filters for post-flight laboratory analysis.
These devices collect particulate samples onto filters for post-flight laboratory analysis.
Courtesy FAAM
These probes hang off the wings and can capture cloud droplets.
These probes hang off the wings and can capture cloud droplets.
Courtesy FAAM
Desert dust particles are small and difficult to measure, and are analyzed by instruments outside the plane while it's flying.
Desert dust particles are small and difficult to measure, and are analyzed by instruments outside the plane while it's flying.
Courtesy FAAM / Hannah Price
In 2010, after a huge volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallaj?kull, Iceland, the flying lab was deployed to measure ash levels in the atmosphere.
In 2010, after a huge volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallaj?kull, Iceland, the flying lab was deployed to measure ash levels in the atmosphere.
Courtesy FAAM
This flying lab is tackling environmental challenges
CNN  — 

From the outside, you could easily mistake it for any other small passenger jet. But once you’re inside, it’s clear that this is not a typical aircraft.

Rows of scientific equipment have replaced most of the seats. In place of overhead storage there are pipes and wiring, and instead of holidaymakers, the passengers are research scientists.

This is no ordinary plane; this is Europe’s largest flying lab.

The Airborne Laboratory is operated by the UK’s Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) and can be found in skies around the world. Through its research it is helping us better understand challenges like air pollution, climate change and extreme weather.

“Measuring physical and chemical effects in the atmosphere informs climate models and our understanding of how climate will change over time,” Alan Woolley, head of FAAM, tells CNN. “We’re trying to understand how the environment works (through) the atmosphere so we can be responsible about decisions we take to sustain it.”

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FAAM – which is part of National Centre for Atmospheric Science – began using the jet lab in 2005 and it has since completed more than 15,000 flights, covering 2 million miles. Last November, the airborne laboratory was granted ￡61 million ($81 million) by the UK government so it could continue its research for another 10 years.

The flying laboratory can reach an altitude of 35,000 feet.
The flying laboratory can reach an altitude of 35,000 feet.
Courtesy FAAM

Making a laboratory in the sky

The plane didn’t start out as a flying lab: It’s a reconfigured BAe 146 commercial passenger plane – a model once used by many airlines, including Britain’s easyJet, and still used today by regional carriers. BAe systems modified it to meet FAAM’s needs.

During research flights, the aircraft can carry up to 18 scientists. It can reach an altitude of 35,000 feet and fly as low as 50 feet over the ocean, to better understand the complex interactions between the atmosphere and the sea. “It looks really crazy!” says Woolley of its low-flying antics. “You don’t normally see larger aircraft providers doing this.”

Because of the skill needed for the job, the plane is often flown by former Royal Air Force pilots.

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To reduce risks when flying low, the plane has a high wing structure which adds stability and lifts its engines away from the ground. The plane has extended-range fuel tanks and short takeoff-and-landing capabilities, which makes it easier to access smaller airports and remote locations.

It has also been kitted out with around four tons of equipment to enable cutting-edge research. “Windows have been blanked off and have inlets, (where) we suck in air to analyze gas constituents, like carbon dioxide concentration,” explains Woolley.

Particles of cloud, smoke, fog, volcanic dust and pollutants, are captured by sampling probes that hang off the wings, and then brought into the aircraft for analysis. Difficult-to-measure particles, like desert dust or sea-salt aerosols, are analyzed by instruments outside the plane while it’s flying.

This probe measures the size and number of cloud droplets.
This probe measures the size and number of cloud droplets.
Courtesy FAAM

Vital research

Woolley says the aircraft “is a bit of a Swiss Army knife,” because it can be reconfigured for different research needs.

In 2010, a huge volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallaj?kull, Iceland, closed airspace across Europe, costing the airline industry more than $1 billion. The flying lab was deployed to survey the atmosphere for signs of ash.

Two years later, the plane assisted energy company Total in its response to the Elgin gas platform leak 150 miles off the coast of Scotland, by measuring methane levels in the air.

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Its work could also save lives. In 2016, FAAM carried out a mission to study India’s monsoon, to better understand how clouds evolve over time and predict patterns of rainfall – work which Woolley says can help ensure food security.

Now the team is working on a project monitoring shipping lanes in the North Atlantic to measure the impact of new regulations that limit ships’ sulfur emissions in international waters. The data will help to analyze the impact of shipping on health and climate.

The pandemic means several projects have had to be postponed, but the team hopes to continue its work later this year.

“The whole point is really to understand the atmosphere better,” says Woolley. That information will help us “make better decisions to lessen the impact that atmospheric effects might have … on society.”