SATPC0039186 TAB 04 4 SOW.pdf

NASA

Earth Sciences Division Airborne Science Program FireSense Project Aircraft Operations and Data Collection Statement of Work (SOW)

Background:

The purpose of this SOW is to describe the work to be performed by American Aerospace, hence forth known as the contractor, to modify and operate an AiRangerTM (uncrewed system with detect and avoid capability) or equivalent to be used for data collection of various imagery and atmospheric parameters (i.e. aerosols, greenhouse gases, sampling of reactive trace gasses, etc.)

over a wildland fire within the continental United States. This work will support the NASA Earth Science Division (ESD), the airborne science program, and FireSense Project mission.

Scope of Work:

The Contractor shall perform the work necessary to support the data collection flights for FireSense. The Contractor shall provide the necessary qualified personnel, materials, equipment, documentation, and facilities (unless otherwise stated) to perform the work.

Project Specific Requirements:

The Contractor shall perform the following:

• The Contractor shall provide one aircraft equal or equivalent to an AiRanger with the standard performance envelope of the AiRanger reviewed under a NASA Commercial Aviation Services review.

• Perform the engineering and aircraft modifications to fly instrument packages provided by NASA. NASA FireSense POC will provide detailed specifications and requirements for each instrument package.

o Flir midwave infrared – Nadir port o Flir longwave infrared – Nadir port o RedEdge multispectral camera - Nadir port

• Provide instrument racks and accessories for integration of NASA equipment.

• Provide flight data as collected by the aircraft at a minimum to include GPS data.

• Assist with instrument engineering and integration.

• Provide NASA with the necessary determinations of compliance with FAA airworthiness standards (14 CFR Part 23 or 14 CFR Part 25 depending on the type of plane selected).

• Satisfy the NASA airworthiness review process as identified in NAII 7900.3, for aircraft operations conducted in the performance of this activity, including but not limited to:

participating in meetings and reviews; providing documentation of work performed, responding to any action items from the review board, etc.

o Upon award of contract, begin participation in NASA airworthiness review process – review dates to be determined.

o Milestones will be determined by the airworthiness review schedule in consultation with the Contractor.

• Carry out ferry operations as requested by NASA FireSense POC for instrument integration and removal

• Carry out data collection flights approximately 96 hours of flight over 14 days between February 2026 – April 2026

• Base of operations to be determined based on fire weather forecasts and burn prescription parameters.

• Estimated proposal of costs shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and Contracting Officer (CO) for review and approval. Work cannot proceed without approval from the COR and CO.

• Aircraft metrics shall be submitted by last day of the deployment month to include Aircraft type, flight hours, sorties flown, sorties aborted due to aircraft and sorties aborted not due to aircraft.

• The Contractor shall provide the FireSense POC flight times for each flight conducted under this SOW. Flight times shall be determined engine on to engines off. The FireSense POC will use these times to submit daily flight reports to the NASA Airborne Science Program.

• All Contractor flight crew and Qualified Non-Crewmembers shall comply with OCHMO- STD-1880.1, NASA Aviation Medical Certification Standards.

• The contractor must be available to participate in regular status meetings, safety reviews, and mission reviews

• The Contractor along with the FireSense POC shall present at requested reviews that may include Airworthiness and Operational Readiness Reviews. Any actions to the Contractor from NASA reviews shall be completed prior to the issuance of a Flight Release. All Flight Readiness Review material shall comply with NPR 7900.3, Aircraft Operations Management, Section 3.12.

• If multiple aircraft will be participating in a mission, then the Contractor along with the FireSense POC shall present at a Mission Readiness Review. Any actions to the Contractor from this review shall be completed prior to the issuance of a Flight Release.

All Mission Readiness Review material shall comply with NPR 7900.3, Section 3.12.

NASA Commercial Aviation Services Information:

o Aviation services contracted for exclusive use fall under Commercial Aviation Services and are considered a Governmental Aircraft under General Services Administration (GSA) rule. All government aircraft in support of NASA will be overseen by NASA during the exclusive use contract. If a US Operator is selected, this will normally fall under the definition of ‘Public Use’ per AC 00-1.1B. If outside the US, the operator will comply with both NASA and home country’s aviation regulations and airworthiness.

o ‘Public Use’ operations as defined in FAA Advisory Circular 00-1.1B is an aircraft used only for the US Government, is not performing an operation with a commercial purpose, and has only the necessary crew onboard. For the duration of flight testing required by this SOW, the selected aircraft and flights meet the FAA definition of ‘public use’, therefore the US Government (NASA in this case) is required to conduct a review of the company, an airworthiness review of the aircraft, and a review the proposed flight test in lieu of the respective FAA review. All three reviews must be complete, and approvals issued prior to first flight, and the continuous surveillance component continues throughout the entire review, approval, and flight test campaign.

o NASA is required to conduct these reviews whether the company is a US company or not, and whether the flight operations are in the US or not. If a prime contractor elects to sub- contract flight activity, the prime contractor shall facilitate NASA conducting these reviews with authorities appropriate for that company and that country.

o Commercial Air Services (CAS). For crewed and uncrewed aircraft, NASA HQ will conduct a review of the selected company to ascertain they meet the requirements to provide CAS aircraft and to conduct flight operations to the US Government. Following the HQ CAS review, a NASA Regional Airworthiness Review Board identified Chief of Flight Operation will review results and determine any mitigations required to conduct the proposed test. If a Contractor has not completed a previous NASA HQ site visit inspection, then the site inspection shall occur prior to the award of a contract for NASA aviation services.

o Airworthiness. A NASA Regional Airworthiness Review Board (ARB) will conduct a review of the aircraft and all proposed modifications. Any modifications to the aircraft that deviate from an FAA (or civil aviation authority if overseas) approved airworthiness configuration shall be reviewed and approved by the ER-ARB. The ERARB does have requirements and a suggested format to present material, however with prior coordination, the ER-ARB is willing to accept the Contractor’s existing process and documentation. If the Contractor’s normal airworthiness process is used, NASA requests the ability to participate in the review, and to be provided documentation of their meeting minutes, action items, and close out of those items. At the conclusion of the NASA airworthiness review, a NASA Statement of Airworthiness will be issued.

o Flight Release. NASA Regional ARB identified Chief of Flight Operation or designee will conduct a review of the proposed flight test operation. This review includes the flight test plan, test points, flight procedures, airspace, and crew qualifications. At the end of this review, the Chief of Flight Operations will issue a Flight Release. Following issuance of the Flight Release an Approval to Proceed Review with senior management occurs where a final approval to proceed will be granted for the start of all flight operations.

o Continuous Surveillance. The NASA Regional ARB identified Chief of Flight Operations is required to provide continuous surveillance of any contracted NASA flight activity. The results ofthe reviews above will determine the level and scope of this continuous surveillance plan. Range of scope could include on site oversight of planned maintenance and flight activities.

Deliverables:

Any associated documentation, science data, hardware, etc. collected; generated or manufactured/purchased in the execution of this SOW shall be the sole property of NASA FireSense Project at the conclusion of the contract.

The contractor shall produce any forms and documentation required for the successful completion of the AFSRB, FRR, ORR, and/or MRR reviews.

The contractor shall produce presentations for the AFSRB, FRR, ORR and/or MRR reviews.

The contractor shall write and deliver flight reports 24 hours after each S-MODE test flight and science flight.

Government-furnished property – NASA Langley will provide the payload sensors identified in section 4.0; Flir midwave infrared, Flir longwave infrared, and RedEdge multispectral camera.

Government-furnished information – NASA Langley will provide the contractor access to sensor manuals, integration drawings, and test data.

Final Closeout:

This SOW will be considered completed when the Contractor’s aircraft returns to the Contractor’s facility, all NASA equipment has been removed and all deliverables have been provided to NASA.

Points of Contact:

FireSense Project Scientist: Jacquelyn Shuman, jacquelyn.k.shuman@nasa.gov FireSense Project Manager: Jennifer Fowler, jennifer.w.fowler@nasa.gov mailto:jacquelyn.k.shuman@nasa.gov mailto:jennifer.w.fowler@nasa.gov