Aviation | Resources | Newsletters | 2023-1
Newsletter Issue 1/2023 (June 2023)
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- Foreword by the Co-Vice-Chair of WMO Standing Committee on Services for Aviation
- The WMO family pays its respects in memory of Matt Strahan
- Publication of a Report on the Outcomes of a Global Survey on Gender Equality in Aeronautical Meteorology and next steps
- Outcomes of WMO's Eighth International Workshop on Volcanic Ash (IWVA-8) and report on the proceedings
- Outcomes of the first meeting of WMO's Advisory Group on Volcanic Science for Applications (AG-VSA-1)
- Outcomes of the seventy-sixth session of the WMO Executive Council (EC-76)
- Outcomes of the second meeting of WMO's Expert Team on Education, Training and Competency (ET-ETC-2)
- Outcomes of the nineteenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-19) and seventy-seventh WMO Executive Council (EC-77)
- Recent composition changes within the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI)
- Recent merger of two expert teams within the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI)
- Latest news on the update to the Long-term Plan for Aeronautical Meteorology (LTP-AeM)
- Preparations for the third meeting of the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI-3)
- Preparations for the second meeting of the Phase II Aviation Research and Development Project Scientific Steering Committee (AvRDP2-SSC-2)
- Plans for 2023 Aeronautical Meteorology Scientific Webinars
- News from the ICAO Secretariat
- News from the WMO Secretariat
- Upcoming WMO meetings and events
- Coming up next time
Foreword by the Co-Vice-Chair of WMO Standing Committee on Services for Aviation
Welcome to the first edition of the Services for Aviation Newsletter for 2023. I am honoured to be stepping into the role of Co-Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI). It's a privilege to work alongside such superstars in our field, whose professionalism and expertise are world class. So it is with deep sadness that we recently bid farewell to a dear colleague, Matt Strahan. His legacy will endure through the amazing contribution he made to the aviation community.
It's been a busy time for the subsidiary bodies of the standing committee, as evidenced by the sheer volume of reports from recent events. The value of returning to face-to-face meetings cannot be underestimated. When compared to a purely virtual offering, the ability to meet in-person has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on our ability to drive progress forward. It does, however, come at a cost. Though the world is often described as 'small', there can be significant distances to travel. What lessons can we learn from our knowledge of facilitating both virtual and in-person events, and how can we optimise our engagement moving forward? We'll consider these questions as we move into another busy period of meeting preparations.
It's fantastic to see so much energy being brought to the various topics, from the initiation of an update to the long-term plan for aeronautical meteorology and the report on the outcomes of the global survey on gender equality in aeronautical meteorology, to the progression of phase two of the aviation research and development project and plans for another series of aeronautical meteorology scientific webinars. It's also been an important period for publications with the approval of updates to guidance relating to service delivery and cost recovery and the adoption of changes to the technical regulations pertaining to aeronautical meteorological personnel qualifications and competencies.
I would like to take the time to thank everyone who contributed to these reports and their outcomes. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed contributing to the work.
Andrea Henderson
Bureau of Meteorology, Australia
Co-Vice-Chair of WMO Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI)
The WMO family pays its respects in memory of Matt Strahan
Submitted by Ian Lisk, Chair of SC-AVI
The WMO family was saddened to learn of the passing away in April 2023 of Matt Strahan of the United States NOAA National Weather Service. As a contributing expert, Matt had been directly involved for many years in the work of the former Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology (CAeM) and the prevailing Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI). Most recently, Matt had served as a co-chair of the SC-AVI Expert Team on Aeronautical Meteorological Hazards Science (ET-MHS) and had been involved in the conducting of a series of Aeronautical Meteorology Scientific Webinars.
Upon hearing the news, his WMO colleagues within SC-AVI as well as the Secretariat were swift and united in paying their respects in his memory and to conveying their condolences to his family and friends. They recollected his all-round kind and gentle nature and his great sense of humour. He is gone too soon. “Sorely missed but fondly remembered” as one of his former colleagues expressed.
Publication of a Report on the Outcomes of a Global Survey on Gender Equality in Aeronautical Meteorology and next steps
Submitted by Stéphanie Wigniolle, WMO Secretariat, in coordination with Claudia Ribero, SC-AVI Thematic Coordinator on Gender Mainstreaming
In 2021, WMO conducted a global survey to obtain feedback on the status of gender equality and empowerment of women in the aeronautical meteorology domain, throughout the WMO Regions.
Further to the article that appeared in the last newsletter (Issue 2/2022), WMO is pleased to announce that a report on the Outcomes of the 2021 Global Survey on Gender Equality in Aeronautical Meteorology (AeM SERIES No. 7) was published via the WMO e-Library in March 2023.
The main objective of the survey was to collate information on respondents’ experience regarding gender equality and empowerment of women in the aeronautical meteorology domain, particularly at the national level. The survey also sought to obtain additional insight on the policies, action plans and/or guidelines pertaining to gender equality in aeronautical meteorology that may exist in the workplace. The report on the survey contains a comprehensive analysis of the responses - at times delineated by gender, region or workplace setting - together with a set of conclusions and recommendations to help WMO, its Members and their aeronautical meteorological service providers strengthen gender equality in the workplace and the aeronautical meteorology domain.
In this context, one of the key recommendations from the survey report invites agencies and institutions to explore and implement key strategies that support gender equality, such as flexible working arrangements, better childcare and family-related provisions, incentives for women already in meteorological fields to pursue leadership positions, etc. For that purpose, it is suggested they could explore gender strategies and initiatives implemented by other agencies and, when appropriate, draw inspiration from them.
The survey results show that the female population in the aeronautical meteorology domain is younger than the male one. Agencies and institutions should then facilitate mentoring initiatives so that young women already in meteorological fields pursue leadership positions as long as their career progresses. It was also highlighted amongst other recommendations that agencies and institutions should strengthen or otherwise improve communication on gender equality plans and related policies, thereby helping to ensure all staff, including those working day and night shifts, are aware of them.
In parallel to the publication of the report, a set of information flyers, which present the most salient information from the survey report and key findings, was also published They are translated into all WMO official languages and available at: English | French | Spanish | Russian | Chinese | Arabic.
The next steps include the development of the draft SC-AVI Gender Action Plan, led by the SC-AVI Thematic Coordinator on Gender Mainstreaming, drawing inspiration from the survey report and from the updated WMO 2024-2027 Gender Action Plan, which was reviewed and endorsed by the 19th World Meteorological Congress. This draft will be presented to the third meeting of the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI-3), which will take place in Exeter, United Kingdom from 12 to 14 September 2023. The SC-AVI-3 internal actions and/or decisions on gender matters, fruit of discussions and teamwork will be available through the final report on SC-AVI-3 and would be further considered in preparation for and at SERCOM-3 (March 2024). This work will aim at contributing broadly to SERCOM and WMO initiatives, towards a more inclusive and gender-balanced environment within our community.
Outcomes of WMO's Eighth International Workshop on Volcanic Ash (IWVA-8) and report on the proceedings
Submitted by Greg Brock, WMO Secretariat
On 4 and 5 February 2023, WMO convened it’s Eighth International Workshop Volcanic Ash (IWVA-8) in Rotorua, New Zealand. The workshop ‘sandwiched’ a 2023 Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI is a subsidiary body of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, IUGG) and a first meeting of the Advisory Group on Volcanic Science for Applications (AG-VSA is a subsidiary body of WMO’s Standing Committee on Services for Aviation, SC-AVI).
The workshop, the first of its kind since IWVA-7 in Anchorage in 2015, attracted nearly 60 participants from around the world, across multiple disciplines including volcanology, geophysics and meteorology scientific researchers and operational personnel as well as aviation industry representatives from airline operators, engine manufacturers and regulatory authorities.
With the theme “From the 2010s to the 2020s and beyond: Managing and mitigating volcanic risks to aviation with an explosion of science”, the workshop welcomed a series of oral and poster presentations as well as moderated panel discussions across the following thematic areas: Airframe, engine and avionics susceptibility developments and industry needs; Recent development and upcoming challenges and opportunities for volcano observatories and meteorological services; and the Next-generation of volcanic hazard services for aviation.
Upon the conclusion of the workshop, three recommendations and a statement were formulated, intended to encourage continued progress in support of the operation and the further development of the international airways volcano watch through this decade and beyond.
Copies of all the oral and poster presentations as well as the recommendations and statement arising from the workshop are accessible via the IWVA-8 homepage here.
The report on the Proceedings of the Eighth International Workshop on Volcanic Ash (IWVA-8) (AeM SERIES No. 8) was published by WMO on 1 June 2023 and is available here (in English only). The report contains a compilation of all the extended abstracts of oral presentations, short abstracts of poster presentations, hyperlinks to all oral and poster presentations, summaries of panel discussions, the workshop recommendations and statement…and more!
Overall, the IWVA-8 participants gave the workshop an average ‘star rating’ of 4.4 starts out of 5, which is an excellent result. The next International Workshop on Volcanic Ash – namely IWVA-9 – may take place in four years (2027 timeframe).
Outcomes of the first meeting of WMO's Advisory Group on Volcanic Science for Applications (AG-VSA-1)
Submitted by Greg Brock, WMO Secretariat
Following the IAVECI Scientific Assembly 2023 and IWVA-8 workshop mentioned above, WMO held a first meeting of its Advisory Group on Volcanic Science for Applications (AG-VSA-1) in Rotorua, New Zealand from 7 to 9 February 2023. (AG-VSA is a subsidiary body of WMO’s Standing Committee on Services for Aviation, SC-AVI.) The first two days of the meeting were held conjointly with a twentieth meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Working Group on Meteorological Operations Groups (WG-MOG/20) addressing the international airways volcano watch (IAVW). (WG-MOG is a subsidiary body of ICAO’s Meteorology Panel, METP.)
The AG-VSA-1 meeting reviewed the outcomes of the IAVCEI Scientific Assembly 2023 and IWVA-8, held discussions with ICAO on a range of topics of mutual interest, including (but not limited to) the operational introduction of a quantitative volcanic ash concentration information service, the scoping of a sulphur dioxide information service for aviation, the maintenance and updating of IAVW-related databases such as an eruption source parameter database and aircraft volcanic ash encounters database, modelling tables used by volcanic ash advisory centres, and forecast verification techniques. The AG-VSA-1 meeting also made commitments to update the AG-VSA operating plan for 2022-2023 and to prepare an operating plan for 2024-2027, taking into account the outcomes of the meeting that the preceding events. In total, 13 action and one recommendation were formulated during AG-VSA-1.
A final report on the AG-VSA-1 meeting is available here (under ‘Advisory Groups of SC-AVI'). Additionally, all AG-VSA-1 working documentation is available here.
The next meeting of the Advisory Group – namely AG-VSA-2 – may take place in two years (2025 timeframe). During the intersession period, AG-VSA will undertake and oversee its work via correspondence and quarterly conference calls.
Outcomes of the seventy-sixth session of the WMO Executive Council (EC-76)
Submitted by Greg Brock, WMO Secretariat
The seventy-sixth session of the WMO Executive Council (EC-76) was held in Geneva, Switzerland from 27 February to 3 March 2023. EC-76 addressed a wide range of issues pertaining to the coordination of WMO programmes and activities, financial matters (including the proposed budget of the Organization for the nineteenth financial period, 2024-2027), resolutions and recommendations from the regional associations and technical commissions (including those arising from the second session of the Services Commission (SERCOM-2) in October 2022), and studies and recommendations on matters affecting international meteorology and related activities (such as the United Nations ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative).
Insofar as Services for Aviation was concerned, the Executive Council adopted Resolution 3.1(7)/1 [provisional number] concerning updates to the Guide to Practices for Meteorological Offices Serving Aviation (WMO-No. 732, to be retitled: Guide to Services for Aviation) and the Guide to Aeronautical Meteorological Services Cost Recovery: Principles and Guidance (WMO-No. 904).
The 2023 updates to WMO-Nos. 732 and 904 stemmed from the work of two WMO consultants and the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI) over the last 1 to 2 years. The updated publications are expected to be available on the WMO e-Library soon. Notification of their publication will appear as a ‘News Item’ on the Services for Aviation homepage here.
Outcomes of the second meeting of WMO's Expert Team on Education, Training and Competency (ET-ETC-2)
Submitted by Kathy-Ann Caesar and Karine Dumas, Co-Chairs of ET-ETC
The second meeting of the Expert Team on Education, Training and Competency (ET-ETC-2) of the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI) convened at WMO headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland from 17 to 19 April 2023. The meeting was the first face-to-face meeting of the Expert Team following the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions and with its current membership. The final report of ET-ETC-2 is available here.
The team first undertook a review of the fulfilment of the objectives in the ET-ETC Operating Plan 2020-2023, including the tasks of maintaining continuous response to requests from Members and their service providers for guidance to assist in their compliance with WMO's aeronautical meteorological personnel (AMP) competency and qualifications requirements.
Over the last 18 months, the Expert Team:
- Completed or assisted with the review and update of WMO documents, including the Compendium on Tropical Meteorology for Aviation Purposes (WMO-No. 930) and Aerodrome Reports and Forecasts: A User's Handbook to the Codes (WMO-No. 782).
- Prepared supplementary guidance material for the Guide to Competency (WMO-No.1205) to address a ‘not yet competent’ result following a competency assessment.
- Modernized and maintained the Services for Aviation Moodle training portal.
- Assisted WMO's Education and Training Office and WMO Regional Training Centres in the planning and delivery of online workshops to address assessor training and on-the-job training mentors
- Contributed to the development of competency frameworks for aeronautical meteorological specialisms (volcanic ash, space weather, and tropical cyclones).
The latter item led to the Expert Team's most challenging task to date, which was to propose an amendment to the Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49), Volume I and update to the Compendium of WMO Competency Frameworks (WMO-No. 1209) addressing the qualification and competency requirements of aeronautical meteorological personnel (AMP) to enable flexibility to address other aviation specialisms. Following endorsement by SC-AVI-2 (March/April 2022) and SERCOM-2 (October 2022), the proposed amendment was considered during the nineteenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-19) – see article here – and the outcomes of Congress will govern much of the next steps of the upcoming 2024-2027 term of the ET-ETC.
During ET-ETC-2 there was a brainstorming exercise on the proposed future structure of the Services for Aviation Moodle training portal to focus on three categories of users: 1) Aeronautical meteorological observers (AMO) and AMO competency assessors; 2) Aeronautical meteorological forecasters (AMF) and AMF competency assessors; and 3) Service managers. The purpose is to identify the potential needs of these users and the resources that might be made available, within the Moodle training portal, to respond to future needs.
The Expert Team also undertook a review of lessons learned and identified needs arising from the recently conducted workshops, supported by ET-ETC. The outcomes will be applied to future capacity development activities.
In preparation for their next term, the ET-ETC-2 meeting concluded with the review of a draft ET-ETC Operating Plan 2024-2027, which is structured to ensure that the tasks are more aligned with the objectives. The Expert Team will present a progress report on the outcomes of ET-ETC-2 and related developments to the SC-AVI 3 meeting in September 2023.
Outcomes of the nineteenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-19) and seventy-seventh WMO Executive Council (EC-77)
Submitted by Greg Brock, WMO Secretariat
The nineteenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-19) was held in Geneva, Switzerland from 22 May to 2 June 2023. Congress is the supreme governing body of WMO and it convenes an ordinary session once every four years. Cg-19 was the first ordinary session of Congress since the reform of WMO’s governance, as called for by Members at Cg-18 in 2019.
Matters addressed by Cg-19 included: General policy matters; membership of the Organization; General, Technical, Financial and Staff Regulations; activities of constituent bodies (including the Services Commission, SERCOM); the approval of strategic plans and budget for the 19th WMO financial period (namely 2024-2027); the election of the WMO President and Vice-Presidents and members of the Executive Council; and the appointment of the Secretary-General.
In this latter respect, Prof. Celeste Saulo (Argentina) was appointed to succeed Prof. Petteri Taalas (Finland) as Secretary-General of WMO with effect 1 January 2024. Prof. Saulo is the first female Secretary-General of the Organization in its history. Read the WMO Press Release on the appointment of Prof. Saulo here.
Insofar as Services for Aviation was concerned, Congress adopted the following resolutions:
- Resolution 4.1(2)/1 (Cg-19) [provisional number] concerning an amendment to the WMO technical regulations and an update to supporting guidance addressing aeronautical meteorological personnel qualification and competency requirements.
- A comprehensive communications package on the amendment/update, including downloadable information sheets and frequently asked questions (FAQs), is available here.
- Resolution 4.1(3)/1 (Cg-19) [provisional number] concerning a plan of action for the discontinuation of WMO Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49), Volume II, Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation.
- A comprehensive communications package on the plan of action, including downloadable information sheets and frequently asked questions (FAQs), is available here.
Read the WMO Press Release on the outcomes of Cg-19 here.
The next ordinary session of the World Meteorological Congress will be held in May 2027. An extraordinary session of World Meteorological Congress will be held in May 2025 to address, for example, the Early Warnings for All initiative and other urgent matters
Recent composition changes within the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI)
Submitted by Greg Brock, WMO Secretariat
Over the past 6-9 months there have been several changes in the composition of the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI), in terms of departures, arrivals and changes in position.
Mr Kent Johnson retired from the Meteorological Service of Canada and, consequently, relinquished his role as one of the two vice-chairs of SC-AVI.
Mr Rodrigo Fajardo Rossel of the Dirección Meteorológica de Chile and Mr James Lunny of the MetService of New Zealand stepped-down from their respective roles as thematic coordinators for capacity development in Regional Association III (South America) and Regional Association V (South-West Pacific).
Ms Andrea Henderson of the Bureau of Meteorology in Australia was selected as co-vice-chair of SC-AVI, occupying the position previously held by Mr Kent Johnson. Simultaneous with this selection, Andrea relinquished her role as a co-chair of the SC-AVI Expert Team on Education, Training and Competency (ET-ETC). Consequently, Ms Karine Dumas of the Meteorological Service of Canada has transitioned from her role as a core expert of ET-ETC to become a co-chair of ET-ETC, with resultant involvement in SC-AVI.
Mr Lei Gu of the Civil Aviation Administration of China has transitioned from his role as a co-chair of the (now former) SC-AVI Expert Team on the Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Aviation (ET-CCV) – see article below – to become a new thematic coordinator for capacity development in Regional Association II (Asia). In addition, Ms Jennifer Stroozas of the United States NOAA National Weather Service has joined SC-AVI as a new thematic coordinator for capacity development in Regional Association IV (North America, Central America and the Caribbean).
The WMO Secretariat and SC-AVI wish Kent, Rodrigo and James all the best for future endeavours and to thank them for their contribution to the work of SC-AVI over recent years. Similarly, the WMO Secretariat and SC-AVI thank Andrea, Karine, Lei and Jennifer for their new or renewed contribution to the work of SC-AVI. The latest organizational chart of SC-AVI is available here.
Recent merger of two expert teams within the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI)
Submitted by Stéphanie Wigniolle, WMO Secretariat, in coordination with Piers Buchanan and Ping Cheung, Co-Chairs of the SC-AVI Expert Team on Weather and Climate Science for Aviation Applications (ET-WCS)
Further to the composition changes described in the article above and considering the challenges SC-AVI has faced at times to sustain in its work a sufficient number of talented and well-engaged experts, some changes have also recently been made to the SC-AVI working structure. The two former science-focused teams of SC-AVI - namely the Expert Team on Aeronautical Meteorological Hazards Science (ET-MHS) and the Expert Team on Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Aviation (ET-CCV) - experienced the stepping-down of some co-chairs and a turnover of core experts, for both personal and work-related reasons.
Addressing these challenges and recognizing that 12 months ahead of the third session of the Services Commission (SERCOM-3) would be an optimal moment to undertake a review and refreshment of the SC-AVI working structure, expert team composition and leadership as well as to appropriately address succession planning needs, a merger of ET-CCV and ET-MHS into a new, combined expert team was proposed and accepted by the members of these two expert teams and approved by SC-AVI.
The Expert Team on Weather and Climate Sciences for Aviation Applications (ET-WCS) was duly established in April 2023. For continuity, the leadership of ET-WCS was carefully considered from among the previous expert teams’ composition. ET-WCS will be maintained through to at least SERCOM-3 in March 2024. The merging of the operating plans of the former expert teams into a new ET-WCS Operating Plan was undertaken by the WMO Secretariat in consultation with the Chair of SC-AVI and new Co-Chairs of ET-WCS.
ET-WCS will present a progress report to the third meeting of the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI-3) on these recent developments and its ongoing and future activities.
Latest news on the update to the Long-term Plan for Aeronautical Meteorology (LTP-AeM)
Submitted by Greg Brock, WMO Secretariat, in coordination with Kaspar Bucher-Studer and Andrea Henderson, Co-Leads of TT-LTP
The Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI) is committed to undertaking a review and update of the Long-term Plan for Aeronautical Meteorology (LTP-AeM), which was originally devised and developed under the auspices of the former Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology and first published by WMO in 2019. Click here to access the 2019 edition of LTP-AeM.
Of course, a lot has happened in the world since 2019, particularly but not only the socio-economic and other negative impacts arising from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both domestically and internationally.
The drivers for change, the responses to change and the outcomes of change within the aeronautical meteorology community specifically and the aviation industry more generally, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, are integral considerations for the next (second) edition of the LTP-AeM. Moreover, the WMO Strategic Plan for 2024-2027, Strategy for Service Delivery, Capacity Development Strategy and Gender Action Plan, as recently endorsed by the nineteenth World Meteorological Congress, are also all serving as inspiration for the update to the LTP-AeM. The United Nations ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative, which WMO is heavily involved in supporting (read more here), as well as the latest edition of the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are additional key considerations.
SC-AVI has re-established a Task Team on the Long-term Plan for Aeronautical Meteorology (TT-LTP), comprising members of the Standing Committee (from across all six WMO Regional Associations) and assisted by the WMO Secretariat, to undertake the review and update. At present, the Task Team is actively undertaking literature reviews and has started drafting potential new and improved content for the LTP-AeM ahead of an interim review at the third meeting of the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI-3) in September 2023. Given the foreseen magnitude of the changes that need to be made to the LTP-AeM, it is considered unlikely that the update will be ready for review at the third session of the Services Commission (SERCOM-3) in March 2024 and that, instead, the SERCOM-4 session in 2026 is a more realistic and achievable target to aim for.
Periodic updates on the progress being made by SC-AVI and TT-LTP in respect of the LTP-AeM will appear in future editions of the Services for Aviation newsletter and/or on the Services for Aviation website.
Preparations for the third meeting of the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI-3)
Submitted by Greg Brock, WMO Secretariat
Final preparations are underway for the third meeting of the Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI-3), which will take place in Exeter, United Kingdom from 12 to 14 September 2023.
SC-AVI-3 is the first meeting of the Standing Committee since SC-AVI-2 in March/April 2022 and it will be the last to be held in advance of the third session of the Services Commission (SERCOM-3) in March 2024. (SC-AVI is a subsidiary body of the Service Commission, SERCOM.)
The objective of SC-AVI-3 is to discuss and coordinate the activities of the Standing Committee (including its subsidiary bodies comprising expert teams, advisory group and task team) and to address other issues of relevance including operating plans, current and proposed future structure and composition of the Standing Committee, and WMO’s collaboration with partner international organizations including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The status of an update to the Long-term Plan for Aeronautical Meteorology (LTP-AeM) as well as a draft action plan to support increasing the involvement of women in the aeronautical meteorology domain, taking into account the outcomes of the 2021 global survey mentioned above, will be key components of the SC-AVI-3 deliberations.
SC-AVI-3 is expected to formulate a number of actions and/or decisions internal to the Standing Committee as well as make one or more recommendation for consideration at SERCOM-3. Working documentation for the meeting is available here. The final report on SC-AVI-3 will be available here in Q4 2023 (under ‘Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI)’).
Preparations for the second meeting of the Phase II Aviation Research and Development Project Scientific Steering Committee (AvRDP2-SSC-2)
Submitted by Stéphanie Wigniolle, WMO Secretariat, in coordination with Dr Piers Buchanan and Dr Chris Davis, Co-Chairs of AvRDP2 SSC
AvRDP2 is the second phase (2021-2025) of an Aviation Research and Development Project, a project of the World Weather Research Programme (WWRP), led by the WMO Research Board (RB) with the support of Standing Committee on Services for Aviation (SC-AVI) of the Services Commission (SERCOM). CLICK HERE to learn more about AvRDP2.
| AvRDP2 focuses on scientific advancement and capacity development in observation, forecasting and warning of significant convection and associated hazards. It aims at demonstrating benefits of a gate-to-gate use of this advanced aeronautical meteorological information in the aviation operations environment. |
In 2021 an AvRDP2 Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) was established, comprising experts from RB/WWRP and SERCOM/SC-AVI. At its first meeting in September 2022 (AvRDP2-SSC-1) the SSC, with the support and contribution from a group of aviation user and stakeholder representatives, agreed on a set of air routes for which using an advanced aeronautical meteorological information would assist in the decision-making processes. Among these, two routes in particular were chosen for the AvRDP2 development and demonstration activities, namely London Heathrow (LHR) to Johannesburg (JNB) and Hong Kong (HKG) to Singapore (SIN). AvRDP2-SSC-1 also considered the further development of an AvRDP2 Science Plan, which was finalized at the end of 2022. The AvRDP2 SSC is now preparing for its second meeting (AvRDP2-SSC-2), which will be kindly hosted by the National Centre for Atmospheric Research, at its premises in Boulder, USA from 26 to 28 September 2023.
The main focus of AvRDP2-SSC-2 will be on monitoring the progress of work associated with the two air routes, LHR-JNB and HKG-SIN. On the LHR-JNB route, project partners intend to use a global probabilistic approach to determine the probability of encountering convective weather and high-altitude ice crystals (HAIC) along the flight route using an ensemble of forecast data, exploring other convective diagnostics, and blending a high-resolution model dataset (at the terminal area) into a global dataset. For the HKG-SIN route, the work plan includes the integration of the flight plan (if available) into a seamless blending product (numerical weather prediction and satellite nowcast) to determine duration of flight 'inside' convection or the deviation required for safe routes for participating aircraft. AvRDP2-SSC-2 will review work progress over these two routes and may consider how to involve aviation users in experiments or trials for these innovative solutions and products for the demonstration and validation phase of the project.
AvRDP2-SSC-2 will also review the results of a study conducted by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Observatory, on convection-induced turbulence (CIT) associated with significant convection. Stage 1 of the study has been completed. HKUST will conclude and provide detailed information on Stage 2, which aims at designing and running an ensemble of model simulations of a sufficiently high number of CIT cases.
Information on progress of the AvRDP2 project will appear in future Services for Aviation newsletters and/or via the Services for Aviation website.
Plans for 2023 Aeronautical Meteorology Scientific Webinars
Submitted by Stéphanie Wigniolle, WMO Secretariat, in coordination with Piers Buchanan and Ping Cheung, Co-Chairs of the SC-AVI Expert Team on Weather and Climate Science for Aviation Applications (ET-WCS)
Since the convening of an Aeronautical Meteorology Scientific Conference (AeroMetSci) in Toulouse, France in November 2017 and up to the next similar event, initially planned in 2021 but postponed to at least 2024 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, WMO has sought to maintain community interest and engagement in the aeronautical meteorology domain. In this spirit, WMO has decided to conduct a series of web-based seminars (or ‘webinars’) on key topics addressing meteorological science and applications in support of international civil aviation.
These webinars are intended to serve to promote awareness within and stimulate collaboration across national meteorological services and others involved in the provision and use of meteorological service for international air navigation, with a particular focus on key meteorological hazards of concern to aviation. The first event of this webinar series was convened in June 2022 with a focus on significant convection and associated hazards. Webinar materials including abstracts, recorded presentations and a report comprising an overview of the presentations and a summary of the key points of the panel discussions are available on the WMO Services for Aviation website: RA II (Asia) and RA V (South-West Pacific) | RA I (Africa) and RA VI (Europe) | RA III and RA IV (The Americas and Caribbean)
Building on the success of the 2022 edition of these scientific webinars, SC-AVI, through its newly established Expert Team on Weather and Climate Science for Aviation Applications (ET-WCS) - see article above - and others as necessary, are now leading the planning and preparation of the 2023 edition of the webinars across all six WMO regional associations, which would focus on turbulence and airframe icing, which are two other critical topics for safety and flight efficiency. This 2023 edition is scheduled to convene online in the week commencing 4 December 2023. Further information on the 2023 webinars will appear on the WMO Services for Aviation website soon. So, watch this space!!!
News from the ICAO Secretariat
Submitted by Jun Ryuzaki, Technical Officer, Meteorology, ICAO
Air Navigation World 2023
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is organizing an inaugural Air Navigation World event with a theme of “Shaping the Skies of Tomorrow: Addressing Key Issues and Technologies in Air Navigation and Safety” at ICAO Headquarters in Montreal, Canada from 28 to 31 August 2023. A key component of this event will be discussions on the future technologies and procedures to support the evolution of the aviation system to meet the expectations of the aviation community, including following sessions dedicated to aeronautical meteorology on 31 August 2023.
- Evolution of harmonized and quantitative meteorological information services. This session will discuss future provisions of quantitative and harmonized meteorological information - including the next-generation world area forecast system (WAFS) products, quantitative volcanic ash forecast information (QVA), space weather information service, hazardous weather information service (HWIS) - and foreseen scientific advancements in the field of aeronautical meteorology.
- Delivery, use and integration of future meteorological information. This session will explore current and foreseen user requirements for meteorological information services, including enhancement of meteorological observation and forecast solutions and integrated use of quantitative meteorological information into air traffic management (ATM) operational decision-making and risk assessment.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, aviation industry is now rebuilding with expectations of resumed future growth across a dynamic range of aviation activities. At the same time, ICAO Member States adopted a global Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in international aviation by 2050. A significant portion of this goal is expected to be achieved through technical and operational improvements.
The Air Navigation World 2023 event will also provide a timely opportunity to have an open dialogue on operational and implementation challenges of air navigation and safety solutions by all stakeholders, including governments and industry.
Further information on this event is available at its official website available here.
News from the WMO Secretariat
Submitted by Greg Brock, WMO Secretariat
As the sheer number of articles in this newsletter illustrate, the first half of 2023 has been action-packed (to say the least!) for the Secretariat of the Services for Aviation Division. In addition to providing the necessary support to the activities of the various constituent and non-constituent bodies of WMO, including Congress, Executive Council, Services Commission, Standing Committee on Services for Aviation and various subsidiary bodies, Greg and Stéphanie have also been actively involved in contributing to the activities and attending meetings of other organizations, in particular those of ICAO’s Meteorology Panel and Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection.
The second half of 2023 looks like it’s going to be just as busy – if not busier! – than the first half. Thankfully an extra pair of hands will be available soon, as Adriana (the third member of the Services for Aviation Division) returns to the office following maternity leave.
To get in touch with the team, please email: aviation@wmo.int
Upcoming WMO meetings and events
Note: All information given here is subject to change.
- SC-AVI-3, 12 to 14 September 2023, Exeter, United Kingdom [link]
- SERCOM-MG-2, 30 October to 2 November, Hawaii, United States of America
- Aeronautical Meteorology Scientific Webinars 2023, 5 to 7 December 2023, online
- SERCOM-3, 4 to 9 March 2024, Bali, Indonesia
Coming up next time...
In the next issue of the newsletter readers can look forward to:
- Outcomes of the SC-AVI-3 meeting
- Highlights of the Aeronautical Meteorology Scientific Webinars 2023
- Look-ahead to SERCOM-3 session
...and more!
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