Aviation Host Support for Space Weather Radiation Monitoring

The Met Office seeks continued aviation host support to operate SAIRA radiation monitors onboard commercial aircraft. These instruments, developed by the University of Surrey, measure atmospheric radiation levels and detect increases caused by solar events. The monitors are currently deployed on Virgin Atlantic flights under a contract transitioning from STFC to Met Office management. To maximize data collection, the monitors require continuous operation on high-altitude, high-latitude routes where radiation effects are most pronounced. Long-haul carriers such as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways are preferred hosts. Flight data collected to date has proven essential for validating new radiation models being developed by the Met Office for space weather forecasting and risk assessment. Suppliers should have expertise in aircraft operations, radiation monitoring equipment maintenance, or space weather data management.