Access to aircraft for transnational environmental research

European research groups now have an opportunity to participate in CAATER, an initiative for coordinated access to aircraft for transnational environmental research. The German DLR, the French INSU/CHRS, Meteo France and the UK Met Office have been funded by the European Comm...

European research groups now have an opportunity to participate in CAATER, an initiative for coordinated access to aircraft for transnational environmental research.

The German DLR, the French INSU/CHRS, Meteo France and the UK Met Office have been funded by the European Commission through the Human Research Potential programme's support for access to research infrastructures under the Fifth RTD Framework Programme. As a result, they are now able to offer free access to their aircraft, which include the DLR Falcon, INSU-ARAT/Fokker 27, Meteo France-MERLIN IV and Met Office-C-130).

CAATER is intended to allow scientific teams within Europe trans-national access to any of these four aircraft to undertake some research and gain an appreciation of the potential of atmospheric research aircraft.

EU funding for CAATER will allow around six groups to use each facility over a three-year period, beginning early in 2000. This is equivalent to about ten flight hours per user group. Each campaign is free of charge for the selected projects. This includes travel and accommodation for up to three scientists for one preparatory meeting for the campaign and for one post campaign meeting. Tenderers are asked to note however that EU legislation prevents direct funding for teams coming from the same country as that of the research infrastructure. CAATER expects to fly the selected research teams during 2000 and 2001.

CAATER follows on from a similar programme, under FP4, called STAAARTE (scientific training and access to aircraft for atmospheric research throughout Europe).

A second call for proposals for CAATER is expected in 2001.
An application form, along with all the necessary information should be requested from the Meteorological Research Flight, or is available from:

http://www.dlr.de/FB/CAATER.html

Alternatively, please contact one of the participating facilities at one of the following addresses:

Met Research Flight
Building Y 46
DERA Farnborough
Hampshire GU14 OLX
United Kingdom
Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt
Flight Facility
Oberpfaffenhofen
D-82234 Wessling
Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]

Institut National de Sciences de l'Univers
3-5 Rue Michel-Ange
BP 287
F-75766 Paris Cedex 16
Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]

Meteo France
42 Avenue Gustave Coriolis
F-31057 Toulouse Cedex 01
Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]