ATRAIN: Aircraft instrumentation TRAINing program

Summary

The Aircraft Instrumentation TRAINing program (ATRAIN) was a pilot program to train students in observational techniques in response to a perceived imminent shortage of upcoming scientists adequately trained to effectively use the NCAR facilities. As part of their course requirements, students of John Hallett, Professor at Atmospheric Science Center at the Desert Research Institute, pursuing a higher degree at the Universiity of Nevada, Reno participated in aircraft missions. They developed a scientific rational for different missions, planned and briefed aircraft crew, flew aboard the NCAR Electra, and reduced and analyzed the data after the flight. A range of conditions targeting cloud physics and boundary layer aerosols were sampled to familiarize the students with the performance characteristics of various instruments and the difficulties in conducting measurements from aircraft platforms.