Scientific Aviation is an airborne scientific research company specializing in atmospheric measurements and emissions flux quantifications of methane, CO2, and other trace gases, with applications for air quality, climate, leak detection and repair (LDAR), and atmospheric research. Our services and expertise provide our clients and collaborators with advanced capabilities to better understand our impacts on the atmosphere, and the sound data needed to make informed decisions.
ACCURATE AND RAPID DETERMINATION OF TRACE GAS SOURCES
Understanding the size and location of trace gas emissions is the first step in remediation. Aircraft are often the optimal 3-dimensional research platform to do this. We make accurate, in situ, airborne measurements of trace atmospheric gases such as methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), carbon dioxide (CO2), and ozone (O3). Our skilled team of scientists can carefully design the flight tracks, analyze the data, and apply budget techniques to the processed data to estimate the magnitude and location of these trace gas sources. For example, by flying sets of upwind and downwind legs throughout the atmospheric boundary layer the integrated changes in concentration within the enclosed volume, which is equal to the total source/sink within the volume, can be estimated almost immediately after a flight. We have the expertise and experience to optimize the flight strategy, carry out the analysis and estimate the errors in the source/sink estimates. Since much of the analysis is automated, we can provide source estimates almost immediately after a flight.
MULTI-LEVEL AND MULTI-PLATFORM APPROACH
Scientific Aviation operates four fixed-wing, single-engine Mooney aircraft that have been carefully configured for atmospheric research. Air inlets have been installed on the outboard section of the wing, well away from the exhaust and propeller induced turbulence. In addition to trace gas measurements, supporting measurements include wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, 3-dimensional location and time. All aircraft are fully FAA certified. A normal flight crew consists of a pilot and a flight scientist.
Our quadcopter and hexacopter unmanned drone platforms are an ideal solution for near-field point source quantification and vertical measurements up to 400 ft. agl. Our drone-based emissions quantifications operate by the same principles and methods as employed on our manned aircraft.
For ground-based studies, Scientific Aviation offers a fully-equipped and instrumented mobile laboratory.
A HIGHLY SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED TEAM
At Scientific Aviation, we like to say that we have a “very particular set of skills.” Our company was founded by a scientist with a Ph.D. in atmospheric science and a passion for aviation and airborne research. We have since grown to employ several highly qualified and experienced Ph.D. scientists with backgrounds in atmospheric research of greenhouse gases, reactive gases, and aerosols, airborne measurements, analytical instrumentation design and construction, and computer programming.
MISSION
We support the global mission of combatting climate change by providing airborne measurements of greenhouse gases and pollutants to regulators, research institutions, industry participants and environmentally oriented groups. With our versatile fleet and responsive team we are able to provide objective scientifically vetted measurements FASTER than any other existing options, resulting in quicker identification and mitigation of fugitive emissions. As a science company we will steer clear of judgement and policy, we apply proven scientific principles to determine what IS happening while others are tasked with deciding IF it should be happening. We excel above others by retaining the very best people and, as a company, we commit to preserving the jobs of those who have joined us as long as they demonstrate the values and excellence consistent with our mission.
VISION
• To develop independent research teams capable of providing reliable emissions estimates within 24 hours on all 7 continents within the next 5 years.
• To become a single source for standardized, credible emissions measurements to governments, inter-governmental organizations (UN) and operators (energy producers) without bias or judgement.
• To build a team of healthy, loyal and capable individuals who can be trusted to work with prominent clients around the world.