Systematic efforts have emerged to improve meteorological services as a key safety component in the AFI region

Emerging Meteorology Standards

The World Meteorological Organization, along with the International Civil Aviation Organization, has recently adopted a set of competency standards for all aeronautical weather forecasters and observers. By 2013, every weather service provider to international aviation must demonstrate that forecasters and observers meet or exceed these standards. These standards depart from the traditional education or training qualifications.

Rather, the competencies are unique to different jobs and are directly related to applying the skills to do the job. Most people who board a commercial aircraft are aware that the aviation industry is strictly regulated for safety. Rules dictate when and where aircraft fly and weather observations and forecasts are part of these rules.

However, until now, there has been no internationally-consistent regulation for who can perform the forecasting or observing duties. This has now changed and several African countries are leading the way. Every aviation weather forecaster will have to demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Analyse and monitor continuously the weather situation.

2. Forecast aeronautical meteorolo-gical phenomena and parameters.

3. Warn of hazardous phenomena.

4. Ensure the quality of meteorological information and services.

5. Communicate meteorological information to internal and external users.

Similarly, every aviation weather observer must be able to:

1. Monitor continuously the weather situation.

2. Observe and record aeronautical meteorological phenomena and parameters.

3.Ensure the quality of the performance of systems and of meteorological information.

4. Communicate meteorolo-gical information to internal and external users.

Competency Assessment

The World Meteorological Organization has added additional detail to each of these required competencies. In addition, a Competency Assessment Toolkit has been developed in order to assist countries in implementation of the required assessment of their aeronautical meteorological personnel competencies. For example, one competency detail which is critical throughout Africa relates to thunderstorms.

All aviation forecasters must be able to "apply meteorological knowledge and skill in forecasting thunderstorms". As part of this criterion, the Toolkit provides a detailed checklist of factors to be considered in the assessment. It is expected that every aviation forecaster in the world will be able to meet this competency requirement. If shortcomings are noted, a training plan must be completed in order for a forecaster to remain qualified. With the support of the UK Met Office, an initial workshop on competency assessment was held in Nairobi at the end of September.

The goal of this workshop was to understand the requirements and to develop a competency assessment plan. The delegates in Nairobi shared their experiences and ideas and each one developed a competency assessment plan. Most of the participants were from Africa and, as a result, African countries have taken the lead in competency assessment for aeronautical meteorological personnel. Following the Nairobi workshop, several African countries have started their implementation process.

The meteorological services in Ethiopia and Zambia have commenced their assessment plans. In addition, South Africa and the Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation Aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar (ASECNA) are in the process of incorporating the required competencies into their quality management systems.

In Ethiopia, the assessment will be carried out beginning as the 2011 wet season commences. In Zambia, assessment of observers has begun and forecasters' assessment will begin early in 2011. Some individuals have questioned what would happen after the initial assessment. If the observer or forecaster satisfies the competencies for his or her post, recurring assessment will be put in place. This may be on an annual or multi-year cycle. If deficiencies are noted, then a training and development plan will have to be implemented. By starting the process early, these meteorological services are ensuring that there will be plenty of time to make any necessary adjustments before the regulatory deadline in 2013.

Securing Future Of Aviation Met Service In Africa

Evidence of competency assessment is required for all aeronautical forecasters and observers by late 2013. With fewer employees to assess and document, some smaller meteorological services will be able to implement a system without too much of a burden on human resources. Thus, several smaller countries are demonstrating compliance so that larger organizations can learn from them and follow.

A number of countries have taken the initiative to begin competency assessment in order to show that their aeronautical meteorological personnel meet or exceed requirements. Their examples will be followed by other meteorological services and will contribute to greater consistency and improved aviation safety in Africa and throughout the world.