Scientists across the UK and beyond are urging the Government to reverse sudden funding cuts that will shut down a world-leading atmospheric research aircraft based at Cranfield as early as the end of March.
Almost 350 scientists have signed an open letter protesting last week’s announcement by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) that it will withdraw funding for the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) Airborne Laboratory.
The aircraft, jointly operated by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and based at Cranfield University, has flown more than 1,400 research missions in 30 countries.
Supporters say it is a ‘unique national asset that has supported climate, weather and environmental research for more than 20 years’.
Its highly specialised instruments allow scientists to measure multiple atmospheric variables simultaneously at high precision, something not currently possible with drones, satellites or ground-based systems.
Beyond research, the FAAM aircraft also acts as a national contingency resource. It was deployed after the Buncefield oil depot fire in 2005, mapped the volcanic ash cloud during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, and supported emergency response to the Elgin gas platform leak.
Scientists warn that shutting down the aircraft would leave the UK without any sovereign capability to conduct such airborne assessments, limiting the country’s ability to respond to future industrial accidents, natural hazards or environmental emergencies.
They also note that the move will waste £49 million of public investment spent since 2021 on decarbonising operations and upgrading the aircraft, with the aircraft continuing to operate until 2040.
Scientific community “shocked”
Researchers say the decision came with little consultation or transparency, and that NERC’s suggested focus on “new technologies” such as drones is not realistic in the short term.
While scientists support the development of uncrewed aircraft, they argue that these systems cannot yet match the range, payload, accuracy, or in situ measurement capabilities of FAAM. Nor can they be calibrated without data collected from a trusted airborne platform.
The Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) said the decision raises major concerns about the UK’s long-term scientific, operational and security interests.
“As an independent, evidence-based voice for the meteorological community, we believe it is essential that this decision is carefully scrutinised, not only in terms of scientific impact, but in terms of whether it is in the United Kingdom’s long-term strategic interest,” the Society said.
RMetS added that FAAM has underpinned UK leadership in atmospheric science for decades and warned that the loss of airborne capability would weaken weather forecasting, climate modelling and emergency response.
One Fellow told the Society, “Scientific aircraft are often seen as glamorous and expensive, but underpinning science is impossible to do without actually getting out there and making the measurements.”
The Society also highlighted the risk that specialist skills developed over decades will be lost permanently if the aircraft is decommissioned.
Pressure on UK research funding
The announcement forms part of controversial structural changes at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which oversees the UK’s public research funding.
NERC said the decision followed a review that concluded the FAAM aircraft no longer offered value for money due to rising operational costs and low planned usage.
The aircraft, the first BAe 146 ever built, provides around 300 flying hours per year, but NERC said demand has fallen since the Met Office partnership ended in 2024.
The organisation said ending funding will save around £32 million over the current spending review period, with a further £5 million in avoided costs.
These savings, it said, will be reinvested into “more flexible, scalable and sustainable” atmospheric research technologies, including uncrewed aircraft, land-based systems and advanced remote sensing.
Professor Louise Heathwaite, Executive Chair of NERC, said newer technologies offer “significant opportunities to deliver environmental science in more innovative and sustainable ways while ensuring better value for money”.
NERC says it will work with the research community to create a roadmap for future atmospheric science needs.
Gideon Henderson, NERC Senior Independent Member, called the decision “a sensible and carefully considered value for money decision” that will allow UK atmospheric science to continue developing through cheaper and more adaptable technologies.
NERC added that it recognised how the FAAM aircraft has made “major contributions since its launch”, but that refocusing investment is part of UKRI’s wider shift toward long-term sustainability, innovation and better outcomes for public investment.
However, scientific societies, universities and research groups have raised alarms about the cumulative impact of cuts across environmental and climate science.
The signatories to the FAAM letter say the withdrawal is “sudden and unexpected” and will leave the UK without essential observational capability at a time of increasing extreme weather, climate uncertainty and growing global competition in environmental science.
Researchers are calling on NERC and the Government to pause the closure, begin a full consultation, and protect the UK’s airborne measurement capability while new technologies remain years away from being viable replacements.
