FAAM are responsible for configuring the aircraft to meet the science requirements of our users' science campaigns.

FAAM has access to more instruments than can be physically fitted to the aircraft at any one time, plus the science requirements of campaigns vary in their instrument requirements.

In order to meet the requirements of these campaigns, FAAM change the instrument configuration in two ways.

Configuration Change

The change of instrument configuration from one science campaign to the next, designed to meet the science requirement of the campaign.

• the science requirements, initially coming from the FAAM Flying Hours Application Form;
• the required duration of the proposed science sorties, which itself depends in part upon the mass of the aircraft, i.e. aircraft + instruments + scientists + cargo (in the case of transits to bases away from the home base and "suitcase flights" where the aircraft steps from base to base);
• the serviceability of the instruments;
• the limitations of where instruments can be fitted to the aircraft, as specified during the Airworthiness Process that allows instruments to be fitted onto the aircraft.

The fit of instruments is controlled via the Mission Configuration Control Manual (MCCM), instruments (internal and external) can only be fitted in the positions specified in the MCCM.

A Configuration Change also covers removal or refit of instruments as their serviceability changes.

Planned Configuration Changes typically take between 1 day and 1 week and occur between campaigns.

The Mission Configuration Control Manual page provides details of which instruments can be fitted where, including drag factors for the cloud physics pylons, etc. (You may need to be registered and logged in to the website to see some of this information).

The Flying Programme shows Configuration Changes (highlighted in yellow), providing details of the instrument changes. (You may need to be registered and logged in to the website to see some of this information).

The Current/Future Campaigns menu gives planning details of the instrument requirements of science campaigns. (You may need to be registered and logged in to the website to see some of this information).

Role Change

A Role Change alters the MCCM, e.g. adding new instruments, changing the position of where instruments can be fitted.

A Role Change is a more involved process than a Configuration Change, typically taking 2 - 4 weeks.

As well as altering the MCCM, a Role Change can also cover the requirements of a Configuration Change.

The Project Space provides details of current and future Role Changes. (You may need to be registered and logged in to the website to see some of this information).

The Mission Configuration Control Manual page records the details of each new Role Change. (You may need to be registered and logged in to the website to see some of this information).