Airborne Research Australia (ARA) is a Research Centre at Flinders University and Australia's National Research Aircraft Facility located at Parafield Airport in Adelaide, South Australia. ARA was established in 1996 with funding from the Commonwealth Government's Major National Research Facilities Programme and Flinders University.

The core activity of ARA is the use of airborne platforms (specialist aircraft) for a wide range applications and projects, mainly in the Environmental Research & Development area. Most of these projects are based on collaborations with colleagues and institutions within Australia and internationally. All activity of this nature is carried out within the research framework at Flinders University.

ARA uses specialised aircraft carrying sophisticated sensor packages for the investigation of the atmosphere and the Earth's surface. Atmospheric measurements can be taken from close to the surface to the stratosphere.

The cost-effective integration of complex instrumentation in aircraft is one of the core capabilities of ARA, which also includes design, manufacture and certification of components and systems.

ARA's projects cover the whole world and are focussed on R&D and science applications. ARA has significant Earth observation capability in several areas. For instance, ARA owns the only (civilian) high altitude sensor platform in the Southern Hemisphere, the Grob G520T Egrett.

ARA's staff, the scientists, engineers, technicians, pilots, operations personnel and consultants constitute an experienced and accessible team who ensure that the best results are obtained from research projects.

ARA also has the capability to carry out projects of a commercial nature using its wide expertise in Environmental R&D. These projects are carried out under a separate framework of operations, arrangements and costings.

Mission and Vision

The mission of ARA is to carry out world leading research in airborne environmental sciences. Our vison and approach to acrry out our work is best summarised in a quote from Antoine de St. Exupery, a French pilot who was killed in World War 2.

If you want to build a ship,
don't drum up the men to gather wood,
divide the work and give orders.
Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea...

Governance and Administration

Within Flinders University, ARA is a Research Centre based in the Faculty of Social Sciences. It is governed by a university-appointed Board, the members of which come from both the academic and industrial sectors.

Being a Major National Research Facility (MNRF), ARA has a responsibility to report to the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training.

The day-to-day running of ARA is the responsibility of the Director/Chief Scientist.

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