scope:

GENERAL

Meteorological service for international aviation is provided by meteorological authorities designated by States. Details of the meteorological service to be provided for international aviation are determined by each State in accordance with the provisions of Annex 3 and with due regard for regional air navigation (RAN) agreements, which apply to specific areas designated as air navigation regions by ICAO. Each State also establishes a suitable number of meteorological offices, i.e. aerodrome meteorological offices, meteorological watch offices (MWOs) and aeronautical meteorological stations. Meteorological offices and aeronautical meteorological stations provide information required for operational planning, flight operations, the protection of aeronautical equipment on the ground, and for various other aeronautical uses. The information provided includes observations and reports of actual weather conditions at aerodromes and forecasts; it is made available at aerodrome meteorological offices and is disseminated as appropriate to aeronautical users, including operators, flight crew members, air traffic services (ATS) units, search and rescue (SAR) units, airport management and others concerned with the conduct or development of international air navigation.

Forecasts of en-route conditions, except forecasts for low-level flights issued by meteorological offices, are prepared by world area forecast centres (WAFCs) (see 1.5). This ensures the provision of high-quality and uniform forecasts for flight planning and flight operations. It also permits MWOs to concentrate on keeping watch on weather conditions in their flight information regions (FIRs) and permits meteorological offices at aerodromes to concentrate on local aerodrome forecasting, to keep watch over local (aerodrome) conditions and to issue warnings of weather conditions that could adversely affect operations and facilities at the aerodrome (e.g. aerodrome and wind shear warnings).

SIGMET and AIRMET information concerning the occurrence of specified en-route phenomena which may affect the safety of aircraft operations are issued by MWOs (see 1.3). In the specific case of tropical cyclones and volcanic ash, in addition to SIGMET, advisory information is issued by designated tropical cyclone advisory centres (TCACs) and volcanic ash advisory centres (VAACs)

The responsibility for the provision of meteorological service for international air navigation mentioned in 1.1.1 rests with the meteorological authority designated by each State in accordance with Annex 3, 2.1.4. The meteorological (MET) authority may wish to provide the service or may arrange for the provision of the service by other providers on its behalf.

Terms additional to the "MET authority" are being used in the context of safety oversight audits related to institutional arrangements in States. In particular, use of the terms "meteorological (MET) inspectorate", "meteorological (MET) regulator" and "meteorological (MET) service provider" has raised questions. The following list attempts to clarify these terms which are neither specified nor used in Annex 3:

a) the "MET inspectorate" refers to the entity that is responsible for conducting safety oversight for the "MET authority" over the "MET service provider" in the State concerned;

b) the "MET regulator" can be considered to be simply another term for the "MET authority", i.e. the body responsible for the facilities and services to be provided in accordance with Annex 3. This term is used to highlight the regulatory aspects of its functions; and

c) the "MET service provider" is the entity that is providing the MET facilities and services as required in ICAO provisions. In the context of safety oversight audits, the term "entity providing the MET service" is sometimes used to designate the "MET service provider".

There are no provisions currently in place that would prevent the "MET inspectorate" to be part of the same organization as the "MET authority". Furthermore, in accordance with Annex 3, the "MET service provider" could be either within the "MET authority" or, alternatively, within an independent organization. However, in some States or regions (e.g. under the European Single Sky), the legislation stipulates that the "MET regulator" (i.e. "MET authority") and the "MET service provider" have to be separated, at least functionally. In cases where the "MET service provider" is part of the same organization as the "MET authority", it would be preferable that the oversight function be carried out by an outside, independent "MET inspectorate". In such cases, the inspectorate could be an independent MET expert involved in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification audit of the "MET service provider", or be part of the ministry overseeing the "MET authority" or part of the civil aviation authority (CAA), provided that such a CAA-based inspectorate is a third-party, independent body with qualified MET personnel. Such arrangements would avoid any conflict of interest between inspection and service provision. Irrespective of the administrative arrangements, it is considered important that the "MET inspectorate" have close coordination with the entity responsible for the more general safety oversight (located in most cases within the CAA)

In order to meet the objectives of meteorological service for international air navigation and provide users with the assurance that the service, including the meteorological information provided, complies with the aeronautical requirements, the MET authority must establish and implement a properly organized quality system in accordance with the ISO 9000 series of quality assurance standards. The system is to be certified by an approved organization.

Note.- Specific guidance on this subject is contained in the Manual on the Quality Management System for the Provision of Meteorological Service to International Air Navigation (Doc 9873), published jointly with World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Properly educated and trained personnel should be employed in the provision of meteorological service for international air navigation. It is, therefore, an important responsibility of the MET authority to ensure that widely recognized standards are applied to the qualifications, education and training of all of the personnel involved in the provision of meteorological service for international air navigation. With respect to meteorological personnel, the requirements of the WMO should be applied.

Note 1.- The requirements are given in WMO Publication No. 49, Technical Regulations, Volume I - General Meteorological Standards and Recommended Practices, Chapter B.4 - Education and Training. Detailed guidance is provided in the WMO Guidelines for the Education and Training of Personnel in Meteorology and Operational Hydrology, Volume I (WMO-No. 258) which relates to the training and qualification requirements for aeronautical meteorological personnel.

Note 2.- Education and training in aeronautical meteorology of aeronautical personnel (e.g. pilots, ATC personnel, flight dispatch officers), required by the aeronautical authorities concerned, must comply with the relevant ICAO documents (i.e. Training Manual, Part F-1 - Meteorology for Air Traffic Controllers and Pilots (Doc 7192)).