Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements: Finance
(asked on 26th March 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made on the potential impact of changes in funding for the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements on (a) the UK’s weather, climate and air quality research capacity and (b) related skills pipeline.
Answered by
Kanishka Narayan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), a part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is reviewing the value for money of its infrastructure investments to ensure maximum impact for the UK and transition its atmospheric science infrastructure to more flexible, scalable and sustainable technologies. As part of this, NERC has decided to cease funding the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) aircraft, which is operated by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) at the end of this financial year, with orderly decommissioning taking place in FY 2026/27.
While there are some aspects of atmospheric science that can only be done with an aircraft, the future direction of atmospheric science increasingly favours distributed observing systems, land-based capability, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), and advanced sensor technologies that offer lower emissions, greater responsiveness and improved cost‑effectiveness through scalability.
NERC and UKRI have already begun investing in these areas, including a Net Zero Aerial Capability scoping programme (in collaboration with Innovate UK) on UAV development, as well as committing additional investment to NCAS’ Atmospheric Measuring and Observation Facility (AMOF) equipment pools. NERC will also invest £1 million in Financial Year 2026/27 to further explore autonomous capabilities, with the intention of scaling successful approaches.
NERC is engaging closely with affected staff and institutions to retain expertise within the wider atmospheric science system (including weather, climate and air quality research) wherever possible. Much of the FAAM equipment will be repurposed and will continue to require skilled operators, helping to maintain capability and minimise impacts on the skills pipeline.