UKRI-4763 NERC - Aircraft Operations Safety Case Development for British Antarctic Survey and FAAM Airborne Laboratory

UKRI is seeking to appoint a supplier to provide Aircraft Operations Safety Case Development for the British Antarctic Survey and FAAM Airborne Laboratory with defined timescales for clearly outlined deliverables.

This procurement will result in appointing a supplier via a contract for external aviation safety expertise to: •to assist in authoring fully developed aircraft operations safety cases for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) owned aircraft and all science equipment carried on board, and; •to develop safety case processes and supporting procedures to enable further subsequent development and review in-house.

UKRI owned aircraft are as below.

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) •one De-Havilland Canada (DCH) DASH 7; •four DHC Twin Otters (DHC 6-300); and •one future replacement aircraft De-Havilland Canada DASH 8. Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM): •one BAE 146-301.

The aircraft operate in non-standard environments, such as low altitude (FAAM) and the Antarctic/Arctic (BAS) and scientific communities a means to conduct cutting edge climate research.

The UKRI Framework Document sets out safety and governance responsibilities with regards to delivery of National Capabilities: FAAM Airborne Laboratory and British Antarctic Survey. To fulfil those responsibilities, the AAP was set up to oversee the management of aviation risk within these air operations. It was agreed that a safety case methodology would be followed, in line with best practice and a Goal Structure Notation (GSN) safety case method was elected. Evidence exists to support these safety cases, though gaps exist.