2019-06-17

FIREX-AQ Investigators,

There has been another significant change in the DC-8 schedule that will affect test flights and SARP. After a day of conversations and assessments of the situation here in Palmdale, we want to provide another update on the situation. The schedule provided below is a best guess based on outlooks for completing DC-8 maintenance and upgrades to the oxygen system on the plane. As always, stay flexible and provide feedback on these updates to the plan as they affect you and your team.
 
1 – DC-8 investigators had access to the DC-8 much of today (interrupted by successful pressure test) and will have access to the plane tomorrow from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. After that, the plane will be placed fully in the hands of AFRC for completion of upgrade to the oxygen system. If any investigator decides to stay behind to get what time they can on the plane, they will not have any priority and can expect to only have short periods of continuous power on the plane.
 
2 – The timeline for finishing work on the DC-8 currently precludes conducting either test or SARP flights next week. Absolute best case would be that we can get the shakedown and proficiency flights done on Friday 28 June. In any event, we hope to get these 2 flights in before 4 July. If you have ANY loose ends that need attention to make your instrument ready for the shakedown flight, please let us know ASAP as we may be able to take care of things for you and save you a trip. We will be sure to announce the shakedown flight as soon as it can be scheduled with any reasonable certainty.
 
3 – The most likely plan going forward will include full access to the DC-8 for investigators on 8-10 July for those who need to continue instrument prep for the campaign. This will be followed by four days (11-14 July) with no access to the DC-8 or power to the hangar labs due to an AFRC safety day and planned electrical maintenance at the hangar. You are encouraged to return home for these 4 days.
 
4 – For now, anticipate returning on 14 July and planning for a busy week of Test/SARP flights. We are still working through ideas on the flight pace, but we are prepared to offer an extended preflight (half day) on Monday, 15 July, before we would conduct our first test flight.
 
Please send your feedback and questions, and respond quickly if you have items that need to be addressed before the shakedown flight.
 
Thanks to everyone for your patience!
 
FIREX-AQ Leadership

2019-06-15

Saturday, 6/15 Accomplishments:

  • A/C was outside and remains outside
  • CIT-CIMS, DACOM, LGR CO & LARGE performed maintenance, software checks, plumbing
  • DIAL calibrated
  • MMS/Data performed GPS checks
  • mini DOAS ran test scans and checked communications

 
Sunday, 6/16, Plans:
Lab access only, LN2 servicing
 
Monday, 6/17, Plans:
Plane outside if DIAL needs more calibration time: tbd
0600 A/C Access, with O2 work given priority
1730 Access ends
 
Outlook:
Management is hoping the A/C is ready to fly June 24; we assume access this week, subject to O2 work priority. Adjust your travel accordingly.
We will use WhatsApp to communicate to the science team members in Palmdale. If you are here or will be soon, and don’t have the software on your phone, please install it and contact Katie Stern at 650 440 8749.  
 
ATTN: CANOE, ISAF, ROZE, WAS - Send heater system schematics to Paul Martinez/Brennan Wehr.  paul.a.martinez@nasa.gov  brennan.wehr@nasa.gov )
Send pressure system schematics to Richard Wong – even for your ground pressure systems.

2019-06-14

Dear FIREX-AQ DC-8 Experimenter,
 
Unfortunately, in the past hour the FIREX-AQ leadership was informed that the DC-8 oxygen system is broken and that the acquisition and installation of replacement parts will take a least 7 days before the DC-8 is ready to fly for the FIREX-AQ test flights.
 
Our hope is that we can perform both the FIREX-AQ Test Flights and the SARP flights during the week of June 24th.  DC-8 experimenters will likely have limited access to the DC-8 next week.  So we are recommending that DC-8 experimenters change their airline flights, hotel, and rental car accommodations such that they will be in Palmdale ready to fly a flight on Monday June 24th.
 
Our apologies for the inconvenience this is causing.  We are communicating with the ADANCEDGeo Partnership to see if/when/how to postpone Tuesday’s scheduled harassment intervention workshop.  So stay tuned for more information regarding this. The FIREX-AQ leadership will be in Palmdale next week to monitor progress, and we will be sure to give the FIREX-AQ regular updates on the status of the O2 system repair.
 
Thanks for your patience.  Best regards.
 
Barry Lefer, David Fahey, and the FIREX-AQ Leadership Team

2019-06-13

Thursday, 6/13, Accomplishments:

  • CIT-CIMS, LINeph & Master performed instrument checks, integration/software refinements, calibration, maintenance
  • DIAL prepped for calibration
  • The neph plate was installed (LARGE nephelometers, Laser Imaging neph)
  • TOGA was successfully tuned
  • DACOM completed some plumbing installs, power checks, software mods

Friday, 6/14, Plans:
Inside
0700 A/C access concurrent with O2 work. Possible intermittent power and clearing the A/C of science staff
1530 access ends
 
Outlook (changed from yesterday; each day depends on prior outcomes): 
Saturday: 0700 A/C moved outside; science access to 15:30
Sunday: CIT-CIMS (only) LN2 servicing
Monday: 0600 A/C inside, followed by science access to 1730. SARP begins.
Tuesday: address actions from Tech Brief; Preventing Harassment Training (@1400 in room 211); Potential egress training session
Wed: Shake and prof flights; potential egress training session
Thurs: Science test flight
 
ATTN: CANOE, ISAF, ROZE, WAS - Send heater system schematics to Paul Martinez/Brennan Wehr.  
(
paul.a.martinez@nasa.gov  brennan.wehr@nasa.gov)
Sign your tip over sheets. Label gas bottles.
Send pressure system schematics to Richard Wong – even for your ground pressure systems.
Empty gas bottles need to be in the empty bottle area on the back side of building 716.
Everyone should bring their own drink cup/lid for use in the lab and on flights. There is no supply of disposable cups and lids for coffee/water.
Tools taken from community A/C tool box must be returned at the end of the day.
Keep the emergency shower area in the lab free from obstructions.
RSVP to the Google survey about the June 20 Reception.

2019-06-12

Wednesday, 6/12, Accomplishments:

  • LARGE, TOGA, Mini-DOAS, CIT-CIMS, LINeph & Master performed instrument checks, integration refinements, maintenance around the O2 system work
  • DIAL prepped for calibration

Thursday, 6/13, Plans:
Still inside
0600 A/C access – continuous power until 1300.
**Please show at 0600 if you requested multiple hours of continuous power.
**O2 work concurrent; could be crowded
**After 1300, possible power interruption and clearing the A/C for O2 system work
13:00 Lab meeting (daily)
17:30 Access ends
 
Outlook (changed from yesterday): 
Friday: 07:00-15:30. Details depend on how O2 testing goes Thursday. One possibility is that the A/C is inside until Monday morning.
Saturday: 07:00-15:30 A/C access
 
ATTN: CANOE, ISAF, NOAA PTR-MS, ROZE, SP2, WAS -- Send heater system schematics to Paul Martinez/Brennan Wehr.  ( paul.a.martinez@nasa.gov  brennan.wehr@nasa.gov )
Sign your tip over sheets. Label gas bottles.
Send pressure system schematics to Richard Wong – even for your ground pressure systems.
Empty gas bottles need to be in the empty bottle area on the back side of building 716.
Everyone should bring their own drink cup/lid for use in the lab and on flights. There is no supply of disposable cups and lids for coffee/water.
Tools taken from community A/C tool box must be returned at the end of the day.
Keep the emergency shower area in the lab free from obstructions.
RSVP to the Google survey about the June 20 Reception.

2019-06-11

Tuesday, 6/11, Accomplishments:
LARGE, TOGA, Mini-DOAS, CIT CIMS, MMS, LINeph & Master performed instrument checks, integration refinements, maintenance around the O2 system work (~0930 – 1500)
DIAL prepped for calibration

Wednesday, 6/12, Plans:
06:00 A/C access (O2 work likely to start before 8; estimated 2 hrs; time your arrival accordingly)
13:00 Lab meeting (daily)
17:30 Access ends
 
Outlook (unchanged from yesterday): 
Thursday: 06:00 A/C engine run (~1 hr); then laser calibrations and A/C access until 17:30
Friday: 07:00-15:30 laser calibrations and general A/C access, outside
Saturday: 07:00-15:30 A/C access, outside, button up your instruments

ATTN: CANOE, ISAF, NOAA PTR-MS, ROZE, SP2, WAS-- Send heater system schematics to Paul Martinez/Brennan Wehr. 
Everyone should bring their own drink cup/lid for use in the lab and on flights. There is no supply of disposable cups and lids for coffee/water.
Send pressure system schematics to Richard Wong – even for your ground pressure systems.
Keep the emergency shower area in the lab free from obstructions.
RSVP to the Google survey about the June 20 Reception.

2019-06-10

Monday, 6/10, Accomplishments

  • LARGE, TOGA, Mini-DOAS, CIT CIMS, MMS & Master performed instrument checks, integration refinements, maintenance
  • DIAL prepped for calibration

Tuesday, 6/11, Plans:
06:00 – 17:30 A/C access with the following exception:
Access will occur around O2 system work, part of which requires science personnel off the A/C
13:00 Lab meeting (daily)

Outlook: 
Wednesday: 06:00 – 17:30 A/C access; again, possible interruption for O2 system work
Thursday: 06:00 A/C engine run (~1 hr); then laser calibrations and A/C access until 17:30
Friday: 07:00-15:30 laser calibrations and general A/C access, outside
Saturday: 07:00-15:30 A/C access, outside, button up your instruments

Very high temps expected Tuesday (100°F +).
 

2019-06-08

Saturday, 6/8, Accomplishments:
Instrument integration tasks; occasionally interupted by O2 system work

Sunday 6/9, Plans:
No A/C access
Lab access

2019-06-07

Friday, 6/7, Accomplishments:
Instrument integration
MASTER loaded in aft cargo pit
A/C O2 system checks

Saturday, 6/8, Plans:
08:00 - 09:30    A/C Access
09:30 - 11:00 (an estimate of completion time) A/C O2 system work, no A/C access
After the completion of the O2 system work there will be A/C access until 15:30

Send pressure system schematics to Richard Wong

Send heater system schematics to Paul Martinez/Brennan Wehr

2019-06-06

Thursday, 6/6, Accomplishments:
OPALS team performed probe fit check
ACES/IWAS rack installed
TOGA continued working on sampling lines between inlet and instrument
DIAL team made good progress
mini-DOAS team performed in-lab calibrations
NO LIF instrument removed from rack; to be reinstalled on the 18th

Friday, 6/7, Plans:
06:00 A/C Access
MASTER to load aft pit
Instrument integration tasks
13:00 Lab meeting
17:30 A/C access ends

Send pressure system schematics to Richard Wong

Send heater system schematics to Paul Martinez/Brennan Wehr

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