During three weeks in 2002, a MALE UAV was flown over the NEAT area in the north of Sweden. The objectives of the flights were to demonstrate the use of UAVs in military as well as civilian aspects, among these scientific atmospheric research and ATM issues. The missions were flown from the civilian airport outside Kiruna. The flights were based on the Swedish military airworthiness process, which classified the UAV as a level 3 UAV, having to fly in restricted air but not over restricted ground. Risk levels were considered as for a manned military aircraft. For the scientific flight a Condensation Particle Counter was installed in the fuselage cargo bay. The UAV was flown in a saw-tooth pattern to study the vertical variability between 4 and 8 km altitude. Two different layers of interest were discovered during this flight. At the end of the flight the UAV was flown horizontally in one of these layers to measure particles. The direct feed-back the scientist could give the UAV controller was extremely valuable. Using UAVs as scientific platforms from civilian airports is very feasible, in our opinion.
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