enviscope is a partner within the project In-Service Aircraft for a Global Observing System (IAGOS). The IAGOS-project aims to determine the atmospheric composition by measurements of trace gases, aerosols and cloud particles on board of a fleet of 10-20 long range aircraft. Using commercial in-service aircraft allows global coverage of in-situ measurements that could not be achieved by research aircraft only. The IAGOS project is focused on the establishment of a European Research Infrastructure (ERI), aiming to provide a comprehensive data base for users in science and policy.
Based on the 20-year experience of MOZAIC the follow up project IAGOS provides a more comprehensive set of data. Beside the permanent installation of basic instruments (Package 1 comprising T, rH, CO, O3, and cloud particles) additional more sophisticated measurements are needed. Optional Package 2 instruments are designed as different add-ons in order to measure NOx, NOy, aerosols, or greenhouse gases.
During the design study (IAGOS-DS) enviscope was involved in the integration of NO measurements into the scope of IAGOS. The Packages 2a (NOy) and 2b (NOx) have been developed in close cooperation with the scientists of Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ). The engineers of enviscope developed the instrument frame, assisted to integrate the analysers inside the frame and helped to fulfill the requirements for airworthiness qualification and certification. These two Packages have been certified by Deutsche Lufthansa for use on the Lufthansa aircraft D-AIGT.
Within the EU-funded project phase IAGOS-ERI two additional instruments were developed: Package 2c measures aerosols and Package 2d is a greenhouse gas analyzer. In addition the Packages 2b has been redesigned while the development on Package 2a has been skipped. During the project phase IAGOS-D, funded by the BMBF, enviscope is working in cooperation with the scientific institutions FZJ and MPI-BGC on the integration of the components and the airworthiness certification. Our partner Gomolzig Aircraft Services (GAS) has obtained the necessary EASA approval to become STC holder for IAGOS Package 2. Under supervision of GAS Package 2d has obtained its EASA STC certificate and is the first of the Package 2 options that can be installed on all European A330 and A340 with basic IAGOS modfication (Package 1) installed. The first Package 2d has been integrated into Lufthansa Aircraft D-AIKO in August 2018.
In 2021 Gomolzig Aircraft Services (GAS) has merged into ACC COLUMBIA Jet Service (ACJ). In October 2021 we received the Revision 1 of the STC for Package 2d and in January 2022, after several years of continuous work and setbacks, we finally obtained the STC for Package 2b which is the precondition to install these Packages on European aircraft. Next step is to transfer the STCs to non-European aviation authorities. Furthermore, enviscope and Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) developed an additional Package 2 option (Package 2e), which measures NO2 and Aerosols. This instrument was certified with Minor Change Approval (MCA) by ACJ in December 2023.
Another challenging task of enviscope within the project IAGOS is the development of an organizational structure to guarantee the continuous airworthiness of the instruments. enviscope acts as IAGOS Maintenance Center (IMC) and distributes all IAGOS instruments and spare parts to contributing airlines for operation. Considering that numerous high sophisticated research instruments need to be operated on aircraft from different internationally operating airlines in the highly security-controlled environment of civil aviation this comprises a complex task. All procedures need to follow airworthiness QA/QC standards under the control of the European aviation authoritiy EASA. Our partner company ACC COLUMBIA Jet Service (ACJ) holds EASA 21J, 21G and 145 approvals for design, production and maintenance of IAGOS parts and implemented the IAGOS packages to their scope of work.
Up to now 10 aircraft have been equipped with IAGOS. All of them have the basic installation Package 1 installed, which contains the basic infrastructure as well as the Package 1 instrument (CO, O3), the ICH (T, rH) and the BCP (cloud particles). In 2024 up to 4 aircraft are equipped with Package 2b, 2 aircraft with Package 2d, and 1 aircraft with Package 2e. In the near future we are planning to equip 1 additional aircraft with Package 2d and 2 with Package 2e. enviscope as IAGOS Maintenance Center organizes the logistics for more than 175 different items in order to keep the IAGOS instrument fleet running.
