Tempus Applied Solutions has been awarded a contract from NASA to help modify a Gulfstream Aerospace-built business aircraft that the agency plans to use to conduct aerial surveys of coral reef ecosystems worldwide.
The contract calls for Tempus to also apply for a supplemental type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration to alter a Gulfstream IV jet for NASA, the company said Tuesday.
The company seeks to perform modifications on the jet’s airframe structure, electrical and control systems, avionics and interior design as well as to equip the aircraft with a portable remote imaging spectrometer built by the space agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
“This is a great opportunity to participate in a project that will provide critical environmental insight related to the condition of our world’s oceans,” said Scott Terry, CEO of Tempus Applied Solutions.
NASA aims to initially deploy a modified version of the Gulfstream IV aircraft platform with a team of scientists onboard to examine the status of coral reefs in the Pacific region.
Savannah, Georgia-based Gulfstream Aerospace is a business unit of General Dynamics.