Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · 02/03/2026Key component for me: Airborne measurement is not solely a research tool; it is a national contingency asset. Decisions about FAAM's future should be viewed through a resilience & security lens, not purely a budgetary one. (2/4) 120
Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · 02/03/2026During the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010, FAAM flights provided critical evidence to support the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre. The aircraft also made flights at the request of the Home Office in response to the Buncefield oil depot fire & the Elgin gas platform release, among others. (3/4) 161
Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · 02/03/2026These three contributions alone led to a huge financial benefit to UK plc, outweighing the costs of the aircraft. After spending £50M over the past few years on an mid-life upgrade to the FAAM , the £32M to keep it flying for the next few years seems like a bargain. A short-sighted decision? (4/4) 0101
