Science Instrument Workshop
Dear Colleagues,
One of the scheduled events listed in the SOFIA Call for Proposals (CFP) is a meeting set for May 7, 1997 to outline the FAA certification procedures which must be followed by those who are developing SOFIA science instruments. Such a meeting was requested by the participants at the UCLA Workshop in February of this year, and was envisioned to be a meeting where the USRA team would give out FAA information.
The May 7 meeting is still scheduled, but its scope has been changed; it is now a workshop where Raytheon and United Airlines Designated Engineering Representatives (DER's for the FAA) and a select group of science instrument developers will discuss FAA certification issues with respect to science instruments. This select group, called the FAA Science Advisory Group, consists of Bob Pernic (University of Chicago), Andy Harris (University of Maryland), George Gull (Cornell University), George Voellmer (GSFC), and Ray Russell (Aerospace Corp.). These instrument builders have been asked by the USRA team to represent the science community in discussions with Raytheon and United to develop the best and most cost effective FAA certification plan for science instruments. We believe we have chosen a very capable group of developers to represent the science community, but if you still wish to participate in the May 7 meeting you are very welcome to do so. If you do not want to attend, but have concerns or ideas you want brought up at the meeting, send an e-mail to:
A summary of the conclusions of the workshop will be put on the Web by 5/14/97.
The workshop will be held at Raytheon E-Systems in Waco, Texas. It will start at 8:30 am and is scheduled to end at 2:00 pm. For the purpose of security badging at Raytheon E-Systems, those who wish to attend should contact Lisa Dicorte of the USRA Project Office at Waco before May 2, at:
Participants can either fly into Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, or Waco. The Waco airport is small and is serviced by commuter aircraft only. Waco lies halfway between Dallas and Austin, and is about a 90 minute to 2 hour drive from either (on a straight highway). Participants should plan to arrive in Waco the night before the meeting and leave the day of the meeting on flights from Dallas or Austin departing 6 pm or later. The two hotels in Waco which have special rates for Raytheon E-System business are:
Participants are advised to book their hotel rooms as early as possible since these hotels fill up.
Any further queries in regards to this workshop should be e-mailed to Jackie Davidson. The agenda for the workshop will be put on the Web by 4/30/97.