MET.OR.100 Meteorological data and information
Regulation (EU) 2017/373
(a) A meteorological services provider shall provide operators, flight crew members, air traffic services units, search and rescue services units, aerodrome operators, accident and incident investigation bodies, and other service providers and aviation entities with the meteorological information necessary for the performance of their respective functions, as determined by the competent authority.
(b) A meteorological services provider shall confirm the operationally desirable accuracy of the information distributed for operations, including the source of such information, whilst also ensuring that such information is distributed in a timely manner and updated, as required.
GM1 MET.OR.100 Meteorological data and information
ED Decision 2022/004/R
GENERAL — TERMS IN PART-MET
Whereas ‘provide’ is used solely in connection with the provision of MET service, ‘issue’ is used solely in connection with cases where the obligation specifically extends to sending out (disseminate) the information to a user.
Furthermore, ‘supply’ is used solely in connection with cases where either ‘issue’ or ‘disseminate’ applies.
DATA AND INFORMATION RELIABILITY
Owing to the variability of meteorological elements in space and time, to limitations of observing techniques, and to limitations caused by the definitions of some of the elements, the specific value of any of the elements given in a meteorological report or in a forecast is understood to be the best approximation to the actual conditions at the time of observation or the most probable value that the element is likely to assume during the period of the forecast, respectively. Similarly, when the time of occurrence or change of an element is given in a forecast, this time is understood to be the most probable time.
AMC1 MET.OR.100(a) Meteorological data and information
ED Decision 2020/008/R
INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED
An agreement between the meteorological services provider and the appropriate ATS unit should be established to cover:
(a) the provision in air traffic services units of displays related to semi-automatic observing systems or automatic observing systems;
(b) the calibration and maintenance of these displays/instruments;
(c) the use to be made of these displays/instruments by air traffic services personnel;
(d) as and where necessary, supplementary visual observations, such as meteorological phenomena of operational significance in the climb-out and approach areas, if and when made by air traffic services personnel to update or supplement the information supplied by the meteorological station;
(e) meteorological information obtained from aircraft taking off or landing such as on wind shear; and
(f) if available, meteorological information obtained from ground weather radar.
GM1 MET.OR.100(a) Meteorological data and information
ED Decision 2017/001/R
OTHER AVIATION ENTITIES
The competent authority determines who may be the ‘other service providers and aviation entities’ that could be provided with the necessary meteorological information.
MET.OR.105 Retention of meteorological information
Regulation (EU) 2017/373
(a) A meteorological services provider shall retain meteorological information issued for a period of at least 30 days from the date of issue.
(b) This meteorological information shall be made available, on request, for inquiries or investigations and, for these purposes, shall be retained until the inquiry or investigation is completed.
GM1 MET.OR.105(b) Retention of meteorological information
ED Decision 2020/008/R
GENERAL
The competent authority determines who may be provided with meteorological information about inquiries and investigations concerning aviation.
MET.OR.110 Meteorological information exchange requirements
Regulation (EU) 2017/373
A meteorological services provider shall ensure it has systems and processes in place, as well as access to suitable telecommunications facilities to:
(a) enable the exchange of operational meteorological information with other meteorological services providers;
(b) provide the required meteorological information to the users in a timely manner.
GM1 MET.OR.110 Meteorological information exchange requirements
ED Decision 2022/004/R
Operational meteorological information is disseminated to international OPMET databanks and to centres responsible for the operation of the aeronautical fixed service Internet-based services.
GM2 MET.OR.110 Meteorological information exchange requirements
ED Decision 2020/008/R
The list of relevant meteorological exchange requirements for OPMET can be found in theTABLE MET II-1, TABLE MET II-2, TABLE MET II-3, and TABLE MET II-EUR-1 of Volume II of ICAO Doc 7754 ('EUROPEAN (EUR) AIR NAVIGATION PLAN').
GM1 MET.OR.110(a) Meteorological information exchange requirements
ED Decision 2017/001/R
AREA FORECASTS — LOW-LEVEL FLIGHTS
Area forecasts for low-level flights prepared in support of the issuance of AIRMET information are exchanged between aerodrome meteorological offices and/or meteorological watch offices responsible for the issuance of flight documentation for low-level flights in the flight information regions concerned.
MET.OR.115 Meteorological bulletins
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338
The meteorological services provider responsible for the area concerned shall provide meteorological bulletins to the relevant users.
MET.OR.120 Notification of discrepancies to the world area forecast centres (WAFCs)
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338
The meteorological services provider using WAFS SIGWX forecasts shall notify the WAFC concerned immediately if significant discrepancies are detected or reported in respect of WAFS SIGWX forecasts concerning:
(a) icing, turbulence, cumulonimbus clouds that are obscured, frequent, embedded, or occurring at a squall line, and sandstorms or dust storms;
(b) volcanic eruptions or a release of radioactive materials into the atmosphere of significance to aircraft operations.
GM1 MET.OR.120 Notification of discrepancies to the world area forecast centres (WAFCs)
ED Decision 2020/008/R
REPORTING — SIGNIFICANT DISCREPANCIES
Guidance on reporting significant discrepancies is provided in ICAO Doc 8896 'Manual of Aeronautical Meteorological Practice' as last amended.
MET.OR.200 Meteorological reports and other information
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338
(a) An aeronautical meteorological station shall issue:
(1) local routine report at fixed intervals, only for dissemination at the aerodrome of origin;
(2) local special report, only for dissemination at the aerodrome of origin;
(3) METAR at half-hourly intervals at aerodromes serving scheduled international commercial air transport operations for dissemination beyond the aerodrome of origin;
(b) Notwithstanding point (a)(3), the aeronautical meteorological station may issue hourly METAR and SPECI for dissemination beyond the aerodrome of origin, for aerodromes not serving scheduled international commercial air transport operations, as determined by the competent authority;
(c) An aeronautical meteorological station shall inform the air traffic service units and aeronautical information service of an aerodrome of changes in the serviceability status of the automated equipment used for assessing runway visual range;
(d) An aeronautical meteorological station shall report to the associated air traffic services unit, aeronautical information services unit, and meteorological watch office the occurrence of pre-eruption volcanic activity, volcanic eruptions and volcanic ash cloud;
(e) An aeronautical meteorological station shall establish a list of criteria to provide local special reports in consultation with the appropriate ATS units, operators and others concerned.
GM1 MET.OR.200(a) Meteorological reports and other information
ED Decision 2017/001/R
OBSERVATIONS AND REPORTS
The observations form the basis for the preparation of reports. At aerodromes, the routine observations are supplemented by special observations whenever specified changes occur in respect of surface wind, visibility, runway visual range, present weather, clouds and/or air temperature.
AMC1 MET.OR.200(a) Meteorological reports and other information
ROUTINE OBSERVATIONS
Aeronautical meteorological stations should make routine observations throughout the 24 hours of each day or as determined by the competent authority.
GM1 MET.OR.200(a)(2) Meteorological reports and other information
LOCAL SPECIAL REPORTS
Local special reports should be transmitted to local air traffic services units as soon as the specified conditions occur.
By agreement between the aeronautical meteorological station and the appropriate ATS unit, local special reports are not required to be disseminated in respect of:
(a) any element for which there is in the local air traffic services unit a display corresponding to the one in the meteorological station, and where arrangements are in force for the use of this display to update information included in local routine reports and local special reports; and
(b) runway visual range, when all changes of one or more steps on the reporting scale in use are being reported to the local air traffic services unit by an observer on the aerodrome.
METAR
At aerodromes that are not operational throughout the 24 hours, the issuance of a METAR should commence at least 3 hours prior to the aerodrome resuming operations, or as agreed between the meteorological services provider and the operators concerned to meet pre-flight and in-flight planning requirements for flights due to arrive at the aerodrome as soon as it is opened for use.
AMC2 MET.OR.200(a)(3) Meteorological reports and other information
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF METAR
METAR, and corrections thereto, should be disseminated to international OPMET databanks and to centres responsible for the operation of aeronautical fixed service Internet-based services.
GM1 MET.OR.200(a)(3) Meteorological reports and other information
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF METAR
Procedures for disseminating METAR to users are described in ICAO EUR Doc 018 ‘EUR OPMET DATA MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK’.
AMC1 MET.OR.200(b) Meteorological reports and other information
ED Decision 2022/004/R
SPECI
Where required, SPECI should be issued whenever changes when the following criteria are met:
(a) when the mean surface wind direction has changed by 60° or more from that given in the latest report, the mean speed before and/or after the change being 10 kt or more;
(b) when the mean surface wind speed has changed by 10 kt or more from that given in the latest local report;
(c) when the variation from the mean surface wind speed (gusts) has changed by 10 kt or more from that at the time of the latest local report, the mean speed before and/or after the change being 15 kt or more;
(d) when the onset, cessation or change in intensity of any of the following weather phenomena occurs:
(1) freezing precipitation;
(2) moderate or heavy precipitation, including showers thereof; and
(3) thunderstorm, with precipitation;
(e) when the onset or cessation of any of the following weather phenomena occurs:
(1) freezing fog;
(2) thunderstorm, without precipitation;
(f) when the amount of a cloud layer below 1 500 ft (450 m) changes:
(1) from scattered (SCT) or less to broken (BKN) or overcast (OVC); or
(2) from BKN or OVC to SCT or less.
AMC2 MET.OR.200(b) Meteorological reports and other information
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF SPECI
SPECI dissemination should be identical to METAR dissemination.
GM1 MET.OR.200(b) Meteorological reports and other information
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF SPECI
SPECI representing a deterioration of meteorological conditions should be disseminated immediately after the observation.
SPECI representing a deterioration of one weather element and an improvement in another weather element should also be disseminated immediately after the observation and should then be treated as deterioration reports.
GM2 MET.OR.200(b) Meteorological reports and other information
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF SPECI
A SPECI representing an improvement in conditions should be disseminated only after the improvement has been maintained for 10 minutes; it should be amended before dissemination, if necessary, to indicate the conditions prevailing at the end of that 10-minute period.
GM3 MET.OR.200(b) Meteorological reports and other information
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF SPECI
Procedures for disseminating SPECI to users are described in ICAO EUR Doc 018 ‘EUR OPMET DATA MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK’.
AMC1 MET.OR.200(d) Meteorological reports and other information
VOLCANIC ACTIVITY REPORT
The report of occurrence of pre-eruption volcanic activity, volcanic eruptions and volcanic ash clouds should be made in the format of a volcanic activity report comprising the following meteorological information in the order indicated:
(a) message type, VOLCANIC ACTIVITY REPORT;
(b) station identifier, location indicator or name of station;
(c) date/time of message;
(d) location of volcano and name, if known; and
(e) concise description of the event including, as appropriate, level of intensity of volcanic activity, occurrence of an eruption and its date and time and the existence of a volcanic ash cloud in the area together with direction of ash cloud movement and height.
MET.OR.205 Reporting of meteorological elements
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/469
An aeronautical meteorological station shall report:
(a) surface wind direction and speed;
(b) visibility;
(c) runway visual range, if applicable;
(d) present weather at the aerodrome and its vicinity;
(e) clouds;
(f) air temperature and dew point temperature;
(g) atmospheric pressure;
(h) supplementary information when applicable.
Where authorised by the competent authority, at aerodromes not serving scheduled international commercial air transport operations, an aeronautical meteorological station may report only a subset of the meteorological elements as relevant to the types of flights at that aerodrome. This data set shall be published in the aeronautical information publication.
MET.OR.210 Observing meteorological elements
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/469
An aeronautical meteorological station shall observe and/or measure:
(a) surface wind direction and speed;
(b) visibility;
(c) runway visual range, if applicable;
(d) present weather at the aerodrome and its vicinity;
(e) clouds;
(f) air temperature and dew point temperature;
(g) atmospheric pressure;
(h) supplementary information, when applicable:
Where authorized by the competent authority, at aerodromes not serving scheduled international commercial air transport operations, an aeronautical meteorological station may observe and/or measure only a subset of the meteorological elements as relevant to the types of flights at that aerodrome. This data set shall be published in the aeronautical information publication.
AMC1 MET.OR.210 Observing meteorological elements
DISPLAY
Where automated equipment forms part of an integrated semi-automatic observing system or automatic observing system, displays of data which are made available to the local ATS units should be a subset of and displayed parallel to those available in the aeronautical meteorological stations or aerodrome meteorological offices. In those displays, each meteorological element should be annotated to identify, as appropriate, the locations for which the element is representative.
CLIMATOLOGICAL INFORMATION
(a) Meteorological observations for regular and alternate aerodromes should be collected, processed and stored in a form suitable for the preparation of aerodrome climatological information.
(b) Aeronautical climatological information should be exchanged on request between meteorological services providers.
Chapter 2 — Requirements for aerodrome meteorological offices
MET.OR.215 Forecasts and other information
Regulation (EU) 2017/373
An aerodrome meteorological office shall:
(a) prepare and/or obtain forecasts and other relevant meteorological information necessary for the performance of its respective functions for flights with which it is concerned, as determined by the competent authority;
(b) provide forecasts and/or warnings for local meteorological conditions on aerodromes for which it is responsible;
(c) keep the forecasts and warnings under continuous review and issue amendments promptly when necessary, and cancel any forecast of the same type previously issued for the same place and for the same period of validity or part thereof;
(d) provide briefing, consultation and flight documentation to flight crew members and/or other flight operations personnel;
(e) provide climatological information;
(f) provide its associated air traffic services unit, aeronautical information service unit and meteorological watch office with information received on pre-eruption volcanic activity, a volcanic eruption or volcanic ash cloud;
(g) provide, if applicable, meteorological information to search and rescue services units and maintain liaison with the search and rescue services unit(s) throughout a search and rescue operation;
(h) provide meteorological information to relevant aeronautical information services units, as necessary, for the conduct of their functions;
(i) prepare and/or obtain forecast and other relevant meteorological information necessary for the performance of the ATS units functions in accordance with point MET.OR.242;
(j) provide its associated air traffic services unit, aeronautical information service unit and meteorological watch offices with information received on the release of radioactive materials into the atmosphere.
METEOROLOGICAL DATA TYPE
On request by the operator, the meteorological information supplied for flight planning should include data for the determination of the lowest usable flight level.
PREPARATION OF FORECASTS
The extent of the aerodrome meteorological office responsibilities to prepare forecasts may relate to the local availability and use of en-route and aerodrome forecast material received from other offices.
GM2 MET.OR.215(a) Forecasts and other information
ED Decision 2017/001/R
COMPETENT AUTHORITY
The competent authority identifies the types of forecasts and other meteorological information that need to be provided by the aerodrome meteorological office to flights with which it is concerned.
FORMAT OF FORECASTS
The length of the forecast messages and the number of changes indicated in the forecast should be kept to a minimum.
AUTOMATIC CANCELLATION
The issue of a new forecast by an aerodrome meteorological office, such as a routine aerodrome forecast, automatically cancels any forecast of the same type previously issued for the same place and for the same period of validity or part thereof.
GM2 MET.OR.215(c) Forecasts and other information
TAF CONTINUOUS REVIEW GUIDANCE
Guidance on methods to keep Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF) under continuous review is given in Chapter 3 of ICAO Doc 8896 ‘Manual of Aeronautical Meteorological Practice’ as last amended.
GM3 MET.OR.215(c) Forecasts and other information
ED Decision 2017/001/R
AMENDMENTS TO WARNINGS
If it is known that an existing warning no longer accurately describes the existing or expected future evolution of the phenomena, a new warning, correctly describing the hazard should be issued (avoiding the use of the code word ‘AMD’, not included in the templates for warnings), followed immediately by the cancellation of the original, erroneous one. The new warning should be issued before the cancellation in order to ensure there is always a warning in force and that the cancellation is not mistakenly understood to mean the hazard has completely dissipated.
BRIEFING AND CONSULTATION
(a) Briefing should be understood as being preparatory meteorological information on existing and/or expected meteorological conditions.
(b) Consultation should be understood as discussion, including answers to questions, with a meteorologist or another qualified person of existing and/or expected meteorological conditions relating to flight operations.
(c) The purpose of briefing and consultation is to provide the latest available information on existing and expected meteorological conditions along the route to be flown and at the aerodrome of intended landing, and on alternate aerodromes and other aerodromes as relevant, in order to either explain or amplify the information contained in the flight documentation.
PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING
The service for pre-flight planning should be confined to flights originating within the territory of the State concerned.
FLIGHT DOCUMENTATION
‘Flight documentation’, for the purpose of meteorology, is understood as being documents, including charts or forms, containing meteorological information for a flight.
CLIMATOLOGICAL INFORMATION
The aerodrome meteorological office should make available such climatological tables within a time period as agreed between the competent authority and the relevant user.
AMC1 MET.OR.215(f) Forecasts and other information
ED Decision 2017/001/R
AIS — NOTAM/ASHTAM AND AIC
The aerodrome meteorological office should provide the relevant aeronautical information service provider with meteorological information:
(a) necessary for the preparation of NOTAM or ASHTAM, including, in particular, information on the establishment, withdrawal and significant changes in operation of aeronautical meteorological services sufficiently in advance of the effective date to permit issuance of NOTAM; and
(b) necessary for the preparation of aeronautical information circulars, including, in particular, meteorological information on expected important changes in aeronautical meteorological procedures, services and facilities provided.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
To facilitate search and rescue operations, the aerodrome meteorological office or meteorological watch office should provide:
(a) complete and detailed meteorological information on the current and forecast meteorological conditions in the search area;
(b) current and forecast conditions en-route, covering flights by search aircraft from and returning to the aerodrome from which the search is being conducted; and
(c) on request from the rescue coordination centre, meteorological information required by ships undertaking search and rescue operations.
MET.OR.220 Aerodrome forecasts
Regulation (EU) 2017/373
(a) An aerodrome meteorological office shall issue aerodrome forecasts as a TAF at a specified time.
(b) When issuing TAF, the aerodrome meteorological office shall ensure that not more than one TAF is valid at an aerodrome at any given time.
AMC1 MET.OR.220(a) Aerodrome forecasts
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF TAF
TAF, as well as corrections and amendments thereto, should be disseminated to international OPMET databanks and to centres responsible for the operation of aeronautical fixed service Internet-based services.
GM1 MET.OR.220(a) Aerodrome forecasts
DISSEMINATION OF TAF
Guidance on the dissemination of TAF to users is provided in ICAO EUR Doc 018 ‘EUR OPMET DATA MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK’.
MET.OR.225 Forecasts for landing
Regulation (EU) 2017/373
(a) An aerodrome meteorological office shall prepare forecasts for landing as determined by the competent authority.
(b) This forecast for landing shall be issued in the form of a TREND forecast.
(c) The period of validity of a TREND forecast shall be 2 hours from the time of the report which forms part of the landing forecast.
GM1 MET.OR.225 Forecasts for landing
ED Decision 2017/001/R
RANGE
Landing forecasts are intended to meet the requirements of local users and of aircraft within about one hour’s flying time from the aerodrome.
GM1 MET.OR.225(a) Forecasts for landing
ED Decision 2017/001/R
PREPARATION
As all the aerodromes do not need to be provided with forecasts for landing, the competent authority determines on which aerodromes these types of forecasts will be provided by the aerodrome meteorological office.
GM1 MET.OR.225(b) Forecasts for landing
TREND FORECAST
A TREND forecast is understood as being a concise statement of the expected significant changes in the meteorological conditions at that aerodrome to be appended to a METAR or SPECI, and if agreed between the aeronautical meteorological station and the appropriate ATS unit, in a local routine report and a local special report as well.
MET.OR.230 Forecasts for take-off
Regulation (EU) 2017/373
An aerodrome meteorological office shall:
(a) prepare forecasts for take-off as determined by the competent authority;
(b) supply forecasts for take-off to operators and flight crew members on request within the 3 hours before the expected time of departure.
MET.OR.235 Aerodrome warnings and wind shear warnings and alerts
Regulation (EU) 2017/373
An aerodrome meteorological office shall:
(a) provide aerodrome warnings information;
(b) prepare wind shear warnings for aerodromes where wind shear is considered a factor, in accordance with local arrangements with the appropriate ATS unit and operators concerned;
(c) issue, at aerodromes where wind shear is detected by automated, ground-based, wind shear remote-sensing or detection equipment, wind shear alerts generated by these systems;
(d) cancel warnings when the conditions are no longer occurring and/or no longer expected to occur at the aerodrome.
GM1 MET.OR.235 Aerodrome warnings and wind shear warnings and alerts
ED Decision 2017/001/R
AUTOMATED DETECTION EQUIPMENT
The decision to install an automated wind shear detection equipment should be based on the local meteorological and air traffic considerations. Where such equipment is installed, wind shear alerts should be issued in accordance with MET.OR.235(c).
AMC1 MET.OR.235(c) Aerodrome warnings and wind shear warnings and alerts
WIND SHEAR FOLLOW-UP
Wind shear alerts should be updated at least every minute. They should be cancelled as soon as the headwind/tailwind change falls below 15 kt.
WIND SHEAR ALERTS
Wind shear alerts are expected to complement wind shear warnings and together are intended to enhance situational awareness of wind shear.
CANCELLATION OF WARNINGS
The criteria for the cancellation of wind shear warnings are defined locally for each aerodrome, as agreed between the aerodrome meteorological office, the appropriate ATS units and the operators concerned.
MET.OR.240 Information for use by operator or flight crew
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338
An aerodrome meteorological office shall provide operators and flight crew members with the latest available:
(a) forecasts, originating from the WAFS, of the elements listed in points (1) and (2) of point MET.OR.275(a);
(b) METAR or SPECI, including TREND, TAF or amended TAF for the aerodromes of departure and intended landing, and for take-off, en-route and destination alternate aerodromes;
(c) aerodrome forecasts for take-off;
(d) SIGMET and special air-reports relevant to the whole route;
(e) volcanic ash, tropical cyclone and space weather advisory information relevant to the whole route;
(f) area forecasts for low-level flights prepared in combination with the issuance of AIRMET, and AIRMET relevant to the whole route;
(g) aerodrome warnings for the local aerodrome;
(h) meteorological satellite images;
(i) ground-based weather radar information.
GM1 MET.OR.240(a) Information for use by operator or flight crew
ED Decision 2022/004/R
GENERAL
Forecasts of upper-air humidity and geopotential altitude of flight levels are used only in automatic flight planning and do not need to be displayed.
GM1 MET.OR.240(b) Information for use by operator or flight crew
ED Decision 2022/004/R
GENERAL
For aerodromes not serving scheduled international commercial air transport operations within European Union:
(a) an aeronautical meteorological station may disseminate METAR on an hourly basis, as well as SPECI, as necessary; and
(b) such information should be made available and may include TREND.
GM1 MET.OR.240(d) Information for use by operator or flight crew
ED Decision 2022/004/R
SIGMET
Special air-reports supplied to operators and flight crew members will be those not already used in the preparation of SIGMET.
GM1 MET.OR.240(e) Information for use by operator or flight crew
ED Decision 2022/004/R
SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY
Space weather advisory information is received from space weather centres (SWXCs) in accordance with ICAO Annex 3 ‘Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation’ and ICAO Doc 10100 ‘Manual on Space Weather Information in Support of International Air Navigation’.
MET.OR.242 Information to be provided to air traffic services units
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338
(a) An aerodrome meteorological office shall provide, as necessary, its associate aerodrome control tower and AFIS unit with:
(1) local routine report, local special report, METAR, SPECI, TAF and TREND and amendments thereto;
(2) SIGMET, AIRMET, wind shear warnings and alerts and aerodrome warnings;
(3) any additional meteorological information agreed upon locally, such as forecasts of surface wind for the determination of possible runway changes;
(4) information received on volcanic ash cloud, for which a SIGMET has not already been issued, as agreed between the aerodrome meteorological office and the aerodrome control tower or the AFIS unit concerned;
(5) information received on pre-eruption volcanic activity and/or a volcanic eruption as agreed between the aerodrome meteorological office and the aerodrome control tower or the AFIS unit concerned.
(b) An aerodrome meteorological office shall provide its associate approach control unit with:
(1) local routine report, local special report, METAR, SPECI, TAF and TREND and amendments thereto;
(2) SIGMET, AIRMET, wind shear warnings and alerts, appropriate special air-reports and aerodrome warnings;
(3) any additional meteorological information agreed upon locally;
(4) information received on volcanic ash cloud, for which a SIGMET has not already been issued, as agreed between the aerodrome meteorological office and the approach control unit concerned;
(5) information received on pre-eruption volcanic activity and/or a volcanic eruption as agreed between the aerodrome meteorological office and the approach control unit concerned.
Chapter 3 — Requirements for meteorological watch offices
MET.OR.245 Meteorological watch and other information
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338 (EU) 2021/1338
Within its area of responsibility, the meteorological watch office shall:
(a) maintain continuous watch over meteorological conditions affecting flight operations;
(b) coordinate with the organisation responsible for the provision of NOTAM and/or ASHTAM to ensure that meteorological information on volcanic ash included in SIGMET and NOTAM and/or ASHTAM is consistent;
(c) coordinate with selected volcano observatories to ensure that information on volcanic activity is received in an efficient and timely manner;
(d) provide its associated VAAC with information received on pre-eruption volcanic activity, a volcanic eruption and volcanic ash cloud for which a SIGMET has not already been issued;
(e) provide its aeronautical information service units with information received on the release of radioactive materials into the atmosphere in the area or adjacent areas for which it maintains watch and for which a SIGMET has not already been issued;
(f) provide its associated area control centre and flight information centre (ACC/FIC), as necessary, with relevant:
(1) METAR and SPECI, including current pressure data for aerodromes and other locations, TAF, TREND and amendments thereto;
(2) forecasts of upper winds, upper-air temperatures and significant en-route weather phenomena and amendments thereto, SIGMET, AIRMET and appropriate special air-reports;
(3) any other meteorological information required by the ACC/FIC to meet requests from aircraft in flight;
(4) information received on volcanic ash cloud, for which a SIGMET has not already been issued, as agreed between the meteorological watch office and the ACC/FIC;
(5) information received concerning the release of radioactive material into the atmosphere, as agreed between the meteorological watch office and the ACC/FIC;
(6) tropical cyclone advisory issued by a TCAC in its area of responsibility;
(7) volcanic ash advisory issued by a VAAC in its area of responsibility;
(8) information received on pre-eruption volcanic activity and/or a volcanic eruption as agreed between the meteorological watch office and the ACC/FIC;
(g) when available, provide the relevant air traffic services units, in accordance with local agreement, with information regarding the release into the atmosphere of toxic chemicals which could affect the airspace used by flights within their area of responsibility.
BOUNDARIES
The boundaries of the area over which meteorological watch is to be maintained by a meteorological watch office should be coincident with the boundaries of a flight information region or a control area or a combination of flight information regions and/or control areas.
AMC1 MET.OR.245(f)(3) Meteorological watch and other information
ED Decision 2022/004/R
AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT
If the information requested from an aircraft in flight is not available in the associated meteorological watch office, that meteorological watch office should request the assistance of another meteorological watch office or another aerodrome meteorological office in providing it.
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338
A meteorological watch office shall:
(a) issue SIGMET;
(b) ensure that the SIGMET is cancelled when the phenomena are no longer occurring or are no longer expected to occur in the area covered by the SIGMET;
(c) ensure that the period of validity of a SIGMET is not more than 4 hours, and in the special case of SIGMET for volcanic ash cloud and tropical cyclones, it shall be extended up to 6 hours;
(d) ensure that SIGMET are issued not more than 4 hours before the commencement of the period of validity. In the special case of SIGMET for volcanic ash cloud and tropical cyclones, SIGMET shall be issued as soon as practicable, but not more than 12 hours before the commencement of the period of validity, and updated at least every 6 hours.
ED Decision 2020/008/R
FIR AND CTA
Meteorological watch offices whose area of responsibility encompasses more than one FIR and/or CTA should provide separate SIGMET for each FIR and/or CTA.
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF SIGMET
SIGMET, and cancellations thereof, should be disseminated to international OPMET databanks and to centres responsible for the operation of aeronautical fixed service Internet-based services.
DISSEMINATION OF SIGMET
Procedures for the dissemination of SIGMET to users are described in ICAO EUR Doc 018 ‘EUR OPMET DATA MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK’.
SOURCE
SIGMET concerning volcanic ash clouds and tropical cyclones should be based on advisory information provided by VAACs and tropical cyclone advisory centres (TCACs), respectively.
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338
A meteorological watch office shall:
(a) issue AIRMET when the competent authority has determined that the density of traffic operating below flight level 100, or up to flight level 150 in mountainous areas, or higher, where necessary, warrants the issue of AIRMET in combination with area forecasts for low-level flights;
(b) cancel the AIRMET when the phenomena are no longer occurring or are no longer expected to occur in the area;
(c) ensure that the period of validity of an AIRMET is not more than 4 hours.
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF AIRMET
AIRMET, and cancellations thereof, should be disseminated to international OPMET databanks and to centres responsible for the operation of aeronautical fixed service Internet-based services.
DISSEMINATION OF AIRMET
Procedures for the dissemination of AIRMET to users are described in ICAO EUR Doc 018 ‘EUR OPMET DATA MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK’.
MET.OR.260 Area forecasts for low-level flights
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338
A meteorological watch office shall ensure that:
(a) in the case of AIRMET being issued in combination with area forecasts for low-level flights in accordance with point MET.OR.255(a), area forecasts for low-level flights are issued every 6 hours for a period of validity of 6 hours and transmitted to the meteorological watch offices concerned not later than 1 hour prior to the beginning of their validity period;
(b) in the case where the competent authority has determined that the density of traffic operating below flight level 100, or up to flight level 150 in mountainous areas, or higher, where necessary, warrants the routine issue of area forecasts for low-level flights not in combination with AIRMET, the frequency of issue, the form, and the fixed time or period of validity of the area forecast for low-level flights and the criteria for amendments thereto, are as determined by the competent authority.
Chapter 4 — Requirements for volcanic ash advisory centres (VAACs)
MET.OR.265 Volcanic ash advisory centre responsibilities
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338
In its area of responsibility, the VAAC shall:
(a) when a volcano has erupted, or is expected to erupt, or volcanic ash is reported, issue advisory information regarding the extent and forecast movement of the volcanic ash cloud;
(b) coordinate with selected volcano observatories to ensure that information on volcanic activity is received in an efficient and timely manner;
(c) provide the advisory meteorological information referred to in point (a) at least every 6 hours until such time as the volcanic ash cloud is no longer identifiable from satellite data, no further meteorological reports of volcanic ash are received from the area and no further eruptions of the volcano are reported; and
(d) maintain a 24-hour watch.
AMC1 MET.OR.265(a) Volcanic ash advisory centre responsibilities
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF VOLCANIC ASH ADVISORY
Volcanic ash advisory information should be disseminated to:
(a) the European aviation crisis coordination cell;
(b) international OPMET databanks and to centres responsible for the operation of aeronautical fixed service Internet-based services.
DISTRIBUTION OF METEOROLOGICAL DATA
The AFS address to be used by the VAACs is given in ICAO Doc 9766 ‘Handbook on the International Airways Volcano Watch (IAVW)'.
GM2 MET.OR.265(a) Volcanic ash advisory centre responsibilities
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF VOLCANIC ASH ADVISORY
Procedures for the dissemination of volcanic ash advisory information to users are described in ICAO EUR Doc 018 ‘EUR OPMET DATA MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK’.
Chapter 5 — Requirements for tropical cyclone advisory centres (TCACs)
MET.OR.270 Tropical cyclone advisory centre responsibilities
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338
In its area of responsibility, the TCAC shall issue:
(a) advisory information concerning the position of the cyclone centre, changes in intensity at the time of observation, its direction and speed of movement, central pressure and maximum surface wind near the centre;
(b) updated advisory information to meteorological watch offices for each tropical cyclone, as necessary, but at least every 6 hours.
AMC1 MET.OR.270(a) Tropical cyclone advisory centre responsibilities
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY
Tropical cyclone advisory information should be disseminated to international OPMET databanks and to centres responsible for the operation of aeronautical fixed service Internet-based services.
GM1 MET.OR.270(a) Tropical cyclone advisory centre responsibilities
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY
Procedures for the dissemination of tropical cyclone advisory information to users are described in ICAO EUR Doc 018 ‘EUR OPMET DATA MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK’.
Chapter 6 — Requirements for world area forecast centres (WAFCs)
MET.OR.275 World area forecast centre responsibilities
Regulation (EU) 2021/1338 (EU) 2021/1338
(a) The WAFC shall issue:
(1) gridded global forecasts of:
(i) upper wind;
(ii) upper-air temperature and humidity;
(iii) geopotential altitude of flight levels;
(iv) flight level and temperature of tropopause;
(v) direction, speed and flight level of maximum wind;
(vi) cumulonimbus clouds;
(vii) icing;
(viii) turbulence;
(2) global forecasts of significant weather (SIGWX) phenomena, including volcanic activity and release of radioactive materials.
(b) The WAFC shall ensure that world area forecast system products in digital form are transmitted using binary data communications techniques.
AMC1 MET.OR.275(a) World area forecast centre responsibilities
ED Decision 2022/004/R
DISSEMINATION OF WORLD AREA FORECAST CENTRE (WAFC) GRIDDED GLOBAL FORECASTS AND FORECASTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER (SIGWX)
World area forecast centre (WAFC) gridded global forecasts and forecasts of significant weather (SIGWX) should be disseminated to:
(a) other WAFCs;
(b) centres responsible for the operation of aeronautical fixed service Internet-based services.