UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON'S CONVAIR-580 FLIGHTS FOR SAFARI-2000

Date: 5 September 2000

UW Flight Number: 1831

Goals of Flight:

  1. Measurements on transit from Pietersburg, South Africa, to Kaoma, Zambia.

  2. Measurements on prescribed burn of grass (Dambo) near Kaoma, Zambia, at 14 deg 48' 34" south/24 deg 27' 03" east.

  3. Measurements on transit from Kaoma, Botswana, to Kasane, Zambia.

Period of Flight (engines on to engines off: UTC): 0838-1413

Location:

Kaoma, Zambia; Senanga, Zambia; Kasane, Botswana.

Weather Conditions: Overcast

Accomplishments:

Goals 1) thru 3) achieved. Also, passed over Senanga, Zambia, en route and descended over Senanga, Zambia.

Additional Comments:

Crew stayed overnight in Kasane.

Main Instrument Malfunctions:

FSSP-300 remounted, but still no measurements. PVM noisy toward latter part of flight. Audio tape back tracking on occasions. See also Squawk list.

Flight Scientist: Peter Hobbs

Approx. UCT Time
(UTC = local time minus 2 hours)

Activity

0844

Take off.

0844-0850

Climb to 10, 500 ft.

0850-0941

Transit at 10, 500 ft (bs= 1x10-4 per m) (optical depth about 0.8 at 10,500 ft!).

0941-0944

Climb to 11,850 ft.

0944-1012

Transit at 11,850 ft

1011-1016

Climb to 12,900 ft.

1016-1036

Transit at 12,900 ft.

1036-1037

Climb to 13,953 ft.

1037-1054

Transit at 13,953 ft.

1054-1101

Descend to 9,500 ft.

1101-1134

Transit at 9,500 ft.

1134-1139

Descent at 500 ft/min to 2,000 ft agl over prescribed Dambo fire site (top of convective boundary layer at 8,600 ft).

1150

Fire ignition (wind near surface ENE/5-10 knots).

~115?

1st pass of smoke over fire at 500 ft agl.

2nd pass of smoke over fire at 500 ft agl.

3rd pass of smoke over fire at 500 ft agl (1st bag sample) (see PVH's photos of fire).

4th pass at 500 ft for physical measurements.

5th pass at 500 ft for physical measurements.

6th pass of 500 ft for physical measurements.

7th pass of 500 ft for 2nd bag sample.

8th pass of 500 ft for physical measurements.

9th pass of 500 ft for physical measurements.

10th pass of 500 ft for physical measurements.

11th pass at 500 ft for 3rd bag sample.

?? (See transcript of verbal flight recording.)

Pass at 500 ft thru the plume at a short distance downwind for physical measurements. Weak smoke signals (no bag). Ambient air sampling in vicinity of fire.

1245-1252

Head to Senanga, Zambia.

1257-1413

Descent from 11, 000 ft to 1, 580 ft on approach to Senanga (OD at 1, 580 ft = 1.5).

1413

To Kasane to land.

END