HAIC/HIWC SAFIRE Campaign in Australia

Since the beginning of the year, the SAFIRE Falcon 20 takes part in an experimental campaign in Darwin, Australia. This campaign (HAIC High Altitude and Ice Crystals / HighIWC, supported by the EC, EASA, and FAA) will last two months with 150h of flying time. The purpose of this campaign is to ascertain the conditions that lead to high levels of liquid water content (LWC) and of ice water content (IWC) and thus improve flight safety whenever aeroplanes come into contact with zone of either mixed content or icing conditions.

The Falcon 20 is fitted with a 95GHz radar that gives on site 3D micro-physical and dynamical properties of ice clouds, and with several innovative micro-physical sondes able to measure on site the water and ice water contents.

This experimental campaign is part of an international project which involves several partners, viz EASA, FAA, AIRBUS, NASA, SEA, LAMP, LATMOS, ONERA, ATMOSPHERE, and many more.

More information on the HAIC portal.

The Falcon 20 during a test flight on the 19 December 2013.
@AIRBUS S.A.S 2013 - photo by master films /P. PIGEYRE