HALO as a platform for atmospheric and geophysical research after the first years of intensive deployment: Development, experiences and perspectives

Abstract

HALO, the "High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft", is a research platform mainly for use in atmospheric research and earth observation within the German science community. HALO is operated since 2009 as part of the research aircraft fleet of DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen. In the first few years the development and airworthiness certification of many scientific instruments for HALO as well as the technical testing of aircraft and scientific payload was the main focus of activities within the HALO community. Since 2012 HALO has been deployed for first scientific missions and since 2014 HALO is used intensively for research campaigns with approx. 790 total flight hours flown for science missions or certification purposes in these last three years. Nearly 60 scientific instruments have been certified for HALO so far, not counting the certifications for infrastructural payload elements required by some instruments. This contribution reviews the major technical developments achieved for HALO in the past years and possible future developments from the perspective of the operator of the aircraft. The scientific missions which have been flown so far and which are planned for the next years will be addressed in the context of gained experience regarding the capabilities and limitations of HALO as well as the organizational framework needed to support successful science missions.