10,000 hours of flying with the FAAM Airborne Laboratory
In January 2025 the FAAM Airborne Laboratory’s atmospheric research aircraft reached a milestone of 10,000 hours of flying over the course of its lifetime.
It has taken the aircraft a long time to reach this milestone since its first flight in September 1981 – over 40 years ago. Although the aircraft is the first BAe 146 that ever flew, it is comparatively “young” in terms of hours flown.
Our aircraft started life as a demonstrator model and testbed for the 146/RJ platform so it never saw the heavy use that a normal BAe 146 airliner would have. This made it ideal for use as a research aircraft, and conversion to atmospheric research started in 2001.
The aircraft made its first science flight in March 2004 as the one and only BAE 146-301 Atmospheric Research Aircraft, and since then has flown 6,849 hours for scientific research.
Dedicated to advancing scientific research
The 10,000th hour of flying was logged while validating measurements from the new EarthCARE satellite, as part of the VERIFY research project with the National Centre for Earth Observation and European Space Agency.
Atmospheric research flights using the specially adapted BAE-146 aircraft monitor climate change, measure air pollution, observe weather, and test the latest research technology.
In the last 12 months, we have also seen our research aircraft take to the skies to monitor sustainable aviation fuel emissions, monitor harmful air pollutants over central England, improve summer storm predictions, detect changes in the North Atlantic marine environment, and measure methane emissions from Scottish wetlands and oil-gas platforms.
Research aircraft statistics:
- 10,000 flying hours completed in the aircraft’s 40+ year lifetime
- 6,849 hours flown for scientific research (and counting)
- Each science flight lasts between one and six hours
- Can carry up to 4 tonnes of scientific instruments
- Has flown across 30 countries and 5 continents
- Supported over 120 UK and international science projects
- Capable of flying as low as 15 metres over the sea
- Can reach 11 kilometres high in the atmosphere
- Can cover up to 2000 nautical miles
The aircraft is managed by a unique team of scientists, engineers, flight technicians and project managers who provide a complete package of support for the environmental research community – they have made thousands of hours of airborne science possible.
New season of science flying
2025 will see us enter a new season of science flying – using sustainable fuel for home-based flying to reduce our carbon footprint – as we begin to make exciting upgrades that will keep our research facility operational out to 2040.
The Mid-Life Upgrade will boost the services that the FAAM Airborne Laboratory provides, by modernising science systems, installing cutting-edge instruments, and modifying the aircraft so it is even better suited to carrying out its missions.
The FAAM Airborne Laboratory’s research aircraft is owned by UK Research and Innovation and the Natural Environmental Research Council. It is managed through the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, and leased through the University of Leeds. The aircraft is supported, modified and upgraded by BAE Systems, operated by Airtask Group, and maintained by Avalon Aero. It is hangared in Bedfordshire, with Cranfield Airport at Cranfield University.