Abstract: A system includes an optical ice detection (OID) sub-system optically coupled to light collection optics. A water vapor differential absorption LIDAR (WV-DIAL) sub-system is optically coupled to the OID laser source or light collection optics. The OID sub-system and the WV-DIAL sub-system share at least a portion of an optical path of the light source or through the light collection optics. The OID sub-system, the WV-DIAL sub-system, and the illumination and light collection optics can all be aboard an aircraft. A method includes using a set of illumination and light collection optics aboard an aircraft to obtain data indicative of optical ice detection (OID) and water vapor differential absorption LIDAR (WV-DIAL), e.g. to detect contrail forming conditions for the aircraft and/or predict persistence of contrails from the aircraft.

Abstract: A van apparatus (20, 20') for the transportation of handicapped people having a bi-level floor surface supported by a frame rail (34, 34'), wherein the lower portion of said bi-level floor extends in a substantially level plane from an intermediate area to a forward area of said van apparatus, such that a handicapped person may drive or ride as the front passenger in said van apparatus. The lower portion of said bi-level floor may be lowered to a customized depth in the construction of each individual van apparatus. Methods for construction of such a van apparatus are also disclosed.