Gulfstream
Turbo Commander (AC690)
The
Gulfstream Turbo Commander (AC-690) is a stable high-winged
twin, pressurized turboprop aircraft that is suitable
for a variety of missions. The standard configuration
allows for mission equipment, two pilots, and one photographer.
However, with all seats installed, five scientists/technicians
may be accommodated in the cabin. NOAA's AC-690 Turbo
Commander is utilized by the NGS Remote Sensing Division
and the NOHRSC (National Operational Hydrologic Remote
Sensing Center).
The NGS conducts aeronautical surveys requiring collection
of stereophotographic and remotely sensed data. These
surveys facilitate coastal mapping, airport obstruction
charting, photobathymetry, photogeodesy, boundary determination,
and coastal wetlands mapping. Depending on the scale
of imagery required, missions are flown at altitudes
of 1000 to 24,000 feet above ground level using kinematic
GPS survey techniques. Through post-processing methods,
such as photo-interpretation and photogrammetric measurement,
the NGS uses the data to develop NOAA charting products.
The AC-690 is utilized by the NOHRSC to conduct airborne
snow surveys using a gamma detection system. The system
measures natural terrestrial gamma radiation over specific
flight lines for the purpose of determining soil moisture
and snow water equivalent. This data is used in near
real time by hydrologists and water supply managers
to make better flood forecasts and water supply predictions.
NOAA's AC-690 is most useful in collecting airborne
gamma data in the mountains of the western U.S., Canada,
and Alaska, where the high power and pressurization
features of the aircraft increase efficiency and safety.
STANDARD
AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Type: |
Rockwell
AC690A TurboCommander |
Engines: |
Garrett
TPE 331-5-251K |
Crew: |
2
Pilots + 5 Scientists |
Ceiling: |
31,000
feet |
Rate
of Climb: |
3000
feet/minute |
Operational
Airspeeds: |
120
- 250 kts |
Electrical: |
Two
28 VDC generators, 110 VAC |
Scientific
Power: |
28
VDC, 110 VAC |
Max.
Gross Weight: |
10,250
lbs. |
Empty
Weight: |
6830
lbs. |
Useful
Load: |
3,420
lbs. |
Fuel
Load: |
384
US gallons |
Fuel
Type: |
Jet
A,B JP4,5,8 |
Standard
Fuel Burn: |
Normal
Cruise Speed - 60 to 90 gallons per hour, depending
on altitude and mission |
Dimensions
(external): |
Wing
Span: 46 ft. 7 in.
Total Length, Length: 44 ft. 5 in.
Tail Height: 14 ft. 12 in. |
Dimensions
(internal): |
Cabin
Door: 47 in. X 26.5 in.
Baggage Door: 31.25 in. X 19.75 in.
Baggage volume: 45 cubic ft. |
The
following modifications and installations have been
made to the AC-690:
-
Belly camera port with hydraulically actuated hatch
- Wild
RC-10 aerial camera
-
Video camera mount through belly camera port
-
Daedalus multi-spectral scanner
- Gamma
radiation detection system
- Color
weather radar
- Scientific
AC power inverter
- UHF
radio antenna for monitoring real-time tide gauge
broadcasts for tide-coordinated photography
- Trimble
TNL 3000 cockpit mounted GPS
- Computer-controlled
navigation system (CCNS-4) flight management system
for precision guidance, positioning and data acquisition
- Secondary
external GPS antenna with 12-channel survey quality
Trimble GPS
Airborne
Snow Measurements Help Forecast Flooding and Water Supply
Snow
is a significant element in the United States. The devastating
snowmelt flood of 1997 on the Minnesota River and Red
River of the North caused damage in excess of $4.0 billion
and constituted the most expensive natural disaster,
on a per capita basis, in U.S. history. The economic
impact of snow on the farming, hydroelectric power,
and recreation industries alone as been estimated to
be $18.9 billion annually. Clearly, snow is a critical
component in the nations infrastructure.
Consequently,
the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center
(NOHRSC) in the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS)
and the Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) in the Office
of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has maintained
an Airborne Gamma Radiation Snow Survey Program across
the country for over 20 years. Snow survey aircraft
are used to make near real-time, reliable, airborne
snow water equivalent measurements across the country
during the winter. The airborne snow water equivalent
data are used by the NWS Hydrologic Services Program
when issuing spring snow melt flood outlooks, water
supply outlooks, and river and flood forecasts for the
nation.
NOAA
Corps Officers and pilots based at AOC use the survey
aircraft to make measurements of natural terrestrial
gamma radiation emitted from the potassium, thorium,
and uranium radioisotopes in the upper 20 cm of soil.
A network of 2170 operational flight lines has been
established covering portions of 31 states (including
Alaska) and 8 Canadian provinces. A one-time background
measurement of natural terrestrial radiation, with no
snow, is used to calibrate each flight line that is
typically 15-20 km long and 300 m wide. Water mass in
the snowpack attenuates, or blocks, the terrestrial
radiation. Consequently, it is possible to make a subsequent
airborne radiation measurement over a calibrated flight
line, with a snowpack, and infer the snow water equivalent
on the ground with a root mean square error of 0.81
cm in agricultural environments, 2.31 cm in forested
environments, and 3.50 cm in montane environments.
The
NOHRSC uses a piston-powered, twin-engine, cabin-class,
Aero Commander (AC500S) in the Upper Midwest and in
the East and a turboprop, twin-engine, cabin-class Turbo
Commander (AC690A) in the West and in Alaska to make
simultaneous airborne snow water equivalent measurements
across the country almost continuously from early January
through mid-April. During heavy snow years in the West,
airborne data collection can extend into May and early
June to assess the high elevation snowpack remaining
in the alpine and above the established ground-based
snow water equivalent measurements systems where the
snowpack has melted out. During operational airborne
snow surveys, the radiation data are processed in the
aircraft in real-time and the snow water equivalent
estimates are telemetered up to three times daily from
each aircraft to the NOHRSC office in Minneapolis. Immediately
upon receipt at the NOHRSC, the data are automatically
processed and formatted, sent to the NWS satellite broadcast
network, and received by each of the NWS field offices
in less than 5 minutes of transmission from each survey
aircraft.
Further
information regarding the snow survey program can be
obtained by accessing the National Operational Hydrologic
Remote Sensing Center, Office of Hydrology website at
http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov |