Scientific Committee for Oceanographic Aircraft Research (SCOAR)
Terms of Reference and Operating Procedures
1.
Purpose
2. Composition
3. National Oceanographic Aircraft Facilities
4. SCOAR meetings and process
5. Implementation, Amendment and Termination
The Scientific Committee for Oceanographic Aircraft Research (SCOAR) is an advisory committee established in accordance with Annex II of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) charter. This Committee will provide recommendations and advice to the operators and supporting funding agencies of any aircraft facility designated by UNOLS as a National Oceanographic Aircraft Facility.
This Committee will provide advice and recommendations to facility managers and supporting federal agencies on aspects of operations, sensor development, fleet composition, utilization and data services as appropriate. In addition, SCOAR and the UNOLS Office will provide the ocean science user community with valuable information and advice concerning experiment design, facility usage, scheduling and capabilities.
The Committee will promote collaborations and cooperation between facility operators, funding agencies and the scientific community to improve the availability, capabilities and quality of aircraft facilities supporting the ocean sciences. By promoting collaboration between the ocean science community, the atmospheric science community and other science communities using aircraft in support of their research the committee will work to improve utilization and capabilities for all of these communities.
The SCOAR will also recommend the designation of aircraft facilities as National Oceanographic Facilities to the UNOLS Council and membership as described in paragraph 3 below.
The SCOAR is composed of scientists with broad-based research experience in the ocean and atmospheric sciences including experience with projects that coordinate the use of aircraft with other Oceanographic Facilities such as Research Vessels and that can represent the various oceanographic disciplines required to advise on the effective use of aircraft assets in support of the ocean sciences. The initial composition of the Committee will consist of a Chair and four oceanic and atmospheric scientists. The committee may recommend additional members with the approval of the Council and the funding agencies. Appointed members will normally come from institutions other than the operating institutions of the aircraft facilities and in no case would there be more than one person from any individual institution, not counting the ex-officio representatives.
Nominations to the SCOAR and for SCOAR Chair will be open to the research community. Vacancies will be announced in various weekly journals or other venues as appropriate, and candidates will be asked to submit their vitae and letters of interest. Applications for membership to the SCOAR and the SCOAR Chair will be reviewed by the standing SCOAR and voted on by the membership. The UNOLS Chair shall appoint the SCOAR members and Chair from the nominations made by SCOAR. Members of the SCOAR will be appointed for three-year terms, staggered so that one or two terms begin each year. Individuals may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
The operating institution of each National Oceanographic Aircraft Facility may designate ex-officio member(s) of SCOAR to represent the operational aspects of the facility. With the Council's concurrence, other standing committees of UNOLS may also designate ex-officio members to SCOAR.
3. National Oceanographic Aircraft Facilities
A National Oceanographic Aircraft Facility is an academic organization or institution that operates one or more aircraft in support of oceanographic research or education and that is made available to qualified scientists from any institution with funding for the use of the facility. The purpose is to provide access to aircraft facilities to scientists that do not operate or otherwise have available the required aircraft facilities. UNOLS institutions that operate designated National Facilities will be designated as UNOLS operator institutions in accordance with the UNOLS charter.
The SCOAR will recommend to the UNOLS Council and membership, the designation of aircraft facilities as National Oceanographic Aircraft Facilities under Annex II of the UNOLS Charter. An aircraft facility may be designated a National Oceanographic Aircraft Facility upon the approval of the UNOLS membership after review by the UNOLS Council, with the concurrence of the owner and operator of the facility and with reasonable assurance of ongoing support by one or more funding agencies. National Oceanographic Aircraft Facilities may be multi- or special-purpose facilities and may be designated for the entire annual operating period or any significant period thereof. Opportunity for review and input from Federal funding agencies other than the owner of a facility should be included as part of the designation process.
Each National Oceanographic Aircraft Facility approved for designation by the UNOLS membership will be described and listed as a separate appendix to these terms of reference. The appendix will list the dates of approval, renewal and expiration for this designation.
The SCOAR will meet according to a schedule proposed by the committee and approved by the supporting funding agencies as part of the Annual UNOLS Office proposal and budget. Typically the Committee should meet at least two times a year depending on the number of designated National Oceanographic Aircraft Facilities. Meeting location should rotate between facility operators and funding agency locations. Support for travel to meetings will be provided to appointed members of the committee through the UNOLS office budget. Ex-officio and agency representatives will provide their own support for travel unless otherwise approved as part of the UNOLS office budget.
The SCOAR Chair will set the agenda for meetings in consultation with the Committee, the UNOLS Office, facility managers, funding agencies and others as appropriate. The focus of meetings will include but not be limited to:
Recommendations and reports will be prepared with the assistance of the UNOLS office and will be made through the UNOLS Council and Chair.
5. Implementation, Amendment and Termination
These terms of reference will be reviewed, amended and readopted by the Committee with the approval of the UNOLS Council as necessary and at least every three years. The committee can be dissolved by vote of the UNOLS membership, by the UNOLS Council, due to lack of fiscal support or in the event that there are no designated National Oceanographic Aircraft Facilities. The establishment of this committee and the designation of National Oceanographic Aircraft Facilities will be renewed every three years by vote of the UNOLS membership.
Originally Adopted: September 27, 2002 at Arlington, VA