Page 57 - World Airnews Magazine March 2021

NEWS DIGITAL

LONG RANGE FIXED WING UAVS

Weather researchers
are discovering the value of
using drones for science. In a
project designed to help un-
derstand current climate issues
used the BOREAL fixed-wing
UAV equipped with specialised
sensors to gather data from
areas around Barbados.
The EUREC4A project
(Elucidating the role of
clouds-circulation coupling
in climate), co-directed by
the Max Planck Institute
for Biophysical Chemistry More than 10 international Layers very close to the distance of more than 100 km
in Hamburg (Germany) and climate laboratories with surface are poorly known from the open sea,” said the
the Dynamic Meteorology five oceanographic vessels, because they are under- announcement.
Laboratory (Laboratoire de instrumented floats, land-based instrumented by scientists, The BOREAL carried custom
Météorologie Dynamique: LMD) tools like balloons and aerosols, even though they are precisely sensors in order to meet
in Paris, brought more than meteorological research where the energy exchanges project objectives: BOREAL can
100 scientists from Europe and aircraft, and drones - including between the ocean and the carry a payload of nearly 25 kg.
the United States to work on the BOREAL long range fixed atmosphere take place: but BOREAL was also able to meet
understanding climate issues. wing participated to meet the scientists lack data because it terrain challenges, landing on
“Understanding the effects of challenge. is too dangerous for manned steep terrain on the east of the
climate change on the tropical Multiple drones were used aircraft to fly at an altitude of island.
only 10 - 50 metres above the
zone, and more particularly at during the project, with the surface. By using multiple drones for
the level of trade wind clouds, BOREAL flying long range (over science, the EUREC4A project
is a major challenge. Indeed, 100 km), in co-ordination “The BOREAL is capable also demonstrated the safe co-
detecting property changes with manned meteorological of taking measurements ordination of multiple aircraft:
(even tiny ones) around these aircraft, “to collect very close to the surface short range UAVs, long-range
phenomena is essential as they measurements of radiometry, thanks to its on- board radar, fixed wing UAVs, and manned
illustrate the imbalances in aerosols, temperature, and has been able to take aircraft, using a satellite
heat exchanges that control the humidity and turbulence trajectories less than 50m positioning and communication
climate,” said a press release. in the lower layers of the from the surface of the Atlantic system shared with all the
atmosphere.” Ocean for several hours at a operators on the ground. Q
HANGAR QUEEN FACES

EVICTION

South Africa’s own Junker
JU 52 that once delighted
onlookers at air shows and
passengers on nostalgia
flights for years could
be facing eviction from
her final resting spot.
That’s because the hangar
in which the plane is
parked belongs to the
fading flag carrier South
African Airways (SAA),
whose survival in the
post-pandemic eras still
up in the air.“The JU 52
will probably fly one last
time, from Johannesburg’s
OR Tambo airport to Rand
Airport. There I would have
to park it outside, ” said
pilot Flippie Vermeulen. Q

World Airnews | March Extra 2021
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