Plane project axed by research council to save £37 million

A UK research council is grounding a plane used to take atmospheric readings in a move that will save almost £40 million by the end of the decade.

Operating since 2001, the National Centre for Atmospheric Science’s Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) has flown more than 10,000 hours on missions in 30 countries across 120 UK and international science projects.

Among its research projects include monitoring volcanic eruptions, collecting data on airborne pollution and conducting the UK’s first sustainable aviation fuel experiment.

With the £6 million annual operating cost of FAAM set to increase to above £9 million a year, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has announced it will not renew the service from April.

The move will save nearly £32 million over the spending review period ending in 2029-30 and avoid a further £5 million in costs, the council said.

Instead, it is looking to invest in drones and other autonomous technology that can be used in atmospheric science, with the savings to be “retained in UK environmental science.” At least £1 million will be invested in 2026-27 on sensing and detection technology that might be used in atmospheric and marine environments.

“New technologies, including uncrewed aircraft and advanced sensors, are creating significant opportunities to deliver environmental science in more innovative and sustainable ways while ensuring better value for money,” said Louise Heathwaite, executive chair of NERC.

“We will now work with the research community, including the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, to review future atmospheric science requirements and develop a roadmap to ensure UK science has access to alternative technologies,” she added.

The move comes amid a wider funding shake-up within UK Research and Innovation that has seen some budgets cuts and other funding streams paused as the funder shifts focus to supporting more research aligned to government priorities. 

The decision follows a review which found the aircraft, which can operate for 300 hours a year but was only used for a fraction of this time, offered low value for money.

Gideon Henderson, senior independent member and a professor of earth sciences at the University of Oxford, said the council was making a “sensible and carefully considered value for money decision which will allow the successful long-term future of UK atmospheric science”.

“Refocusing investment on cost-effective and sustainable remote and autonomous technologies will help UK scientists continue to innovate, to discover, and to deliver understanding that will improve people’s lives,” he said.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com