Two NASA aircraft, including the P-3 shown, will fly over California and the East Coast to collect air pollutant and greenhouse gas data (Photo – NASA/Zavaleta)
Residents across the Los Angeles Basin and surrounding regions may notice low-flying aircraft maneuvering over urban centers and industrial zones through early July, part of a cutting-edge NASA research mission to study air quality across California.
By News Desk
From June 29 to July 2, two specialized research aircraft will conduct low-altitude flights, as low as 1,000 feet, over Southern California, focusing on the Los Angeles Basin, Salton Sea, and Central Valley. The flights are part of NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program (SARP), an annual initiative designed to gather critical environmental data while training the next generation of Earth scientists.
The aircraft, a P-3 Orion operated by NASA and a King Air B200 owned by Dynamic Aviation, are equipped with advanced instruments to measure atmospheric pollutants. Pilots will fly precise patterns that include low flybys, circling over urban infrastructure like landfills and power plants, and performing missed approaches at local airports to collect near-surface air samples.
“The SARP flights have become mainstays of NASA’s Airborne Science Program, as they expose highly competitive STEM students to real-world data gathering within a dynamic flight environment,” said Brian Bernth, chief of flight operations at NASA Wallops.
Bernth emphasized the complexity of the operations, especially in congested airspace over Southern California. “Our P-3 is being flown and performing maneuvers in some of the most complex and restricted airspace in the country,” he said. “Tight coordination and crew resource management is needed to ensure that these flights are executed with precision but also safely.”
The P-3 Orion, a four-engine turboprop, is outfitted with six atmospheric science instruments and will complete approximately 40 hours of research flights. The King Air B200, flying independently but concurrently, will further support data collection. Both aircraft are part of the Airborne Science Program, which supports NASA’s Earth science research goals.
Southern California’s unique mix of dense population, heavy traffic, and industrial activity makes it an ideal, and urgent, target for this kind of atmospheric study. Data collected from these missions will help scientists better understand pollution sources, how air quality changes throughout the day, and how it may be influenced by natural features like the Salton Sea.
SARP is also an educational opportunity for undergraduates, who are actively participating in flight planning, instrument operation, and data analysis during the eight-week summer program.
As flights continue through July 2, residents are advised not to be alarmed by the low-flying aircraft, which are part of a research mission aimed at improving air quality and environmental sustainability in California.
…by pouring more pollution into the air.