Service Name

Aerodrome Forecast information service.

Service Abstract

A service which provides information of the expected meteorological conditions at an airport during a specified period.  It is issued by the designed Aerodrome Meteorological Station and provides a forecast of the expected conditions, including probability, of specified weather parameter and phenomena.

Common Service Definition

The service definition for the Aerodrome Forecast Information Service is currently under development by the MET3SG Task Team on Service Architecture. See Meteorological Aerodrome Forecast Subscription and Request Service.

Service Implementation Status

The service is considered mandatory for all airports (currently publishing TAFs). It is currently under development.

Service Information

The weather forecast is compiled by a qualified meteorologist  (perhaps with an element of automation/guidance from NWP) of the designated aerodrome meteorological office (AMO). It will include, as a minimum, the following parameters:

1. a) Surface Wind direction and speed;

2. b) Visibility;

3. c) Weather;

4. d) Cloud type (if CB or TCU), cloud amount and height of cloud base; and

5. e) Expected significant changes to one or more of these elements during the period of validity.

The period of validity of an aerodrome forecast shall be either 9 or 24 or 30 hours (determined by the competent authority based upon local requirements) and shall be published not earlier than 1 hour before the commencement of their period of validity.

The period of validity should not be less than 6 HRs, no more than 30 HRs.
An aerodrome forecast which is valid for less than 12 HRs should be issued every 3 HRs and those valid for 12 to 30 HRs every 6 HRs.

Service Provision

Service Provider Organization

An aerodrome meteorological forecast information service will be published for all aerodromes currently mandated to provide a TAF. Ultimately, this information service will supersede the current TAF provisions. The service provider organisation is the Aerodrome Meteorological Office designated by the Competent Authority for each aerodrome (the MET ANSP). This designation will vary depending upon local arrangements.

The aerodrome forecast information service complements and uses similar encoding formats as the aerodrome observation information service.. They are produced by a combination of automated NWP outputs and contributions from the human forecaster  and they take into account local, small-scale, geographic effects.

Data Origination

Provision Architecture

The Aerodrome Forecast information service provision architecture refers to the system and processes involved in generating and disseminating aerodrome forecasts to aviation stakeholders.

The architecture typically involves the following components:

• Meteorological Data Collection

• Meteorological Analysis and Forecast Models

• Aerodrome-Specific Data

• Continuous Monitoring and Updates

Service Consumption

Service Consumer Organization

An Aerodrome Meteorological Observation Information Service can be discovered via the SWIM Registry and will be used primarily by:

• Aerodrome Air Traffic Service Providers

• Airspace Users operating in/out of the aerodrome or as a planned diversion.

• Airports

• Aerodrome Meteorological Office(s)

Consumer Usage

An Aerodrome Meteorological Forecast Information Service will be used primarily by:

• Aerodrome Air Traffic Service Providers

  • Capacity and demand scenario planning (i.e. LVP clearance timing)

  • Anticipating runway changes

  • Planning for Switching between time-based separation for landing and distance based

• Network Manager:

  • Significant weather disruptions occurring at major airport, particularly simultaneously, can have impacts on network predictability. Planning for such events is preferable.

• Airspace Users operating in/out of that aerodrome or as planned diversion.

  • Operators, pilots, flight dispatchers, flight crew members and flight operations centres

Both in the pre flight planning phases and also updates en-route for anticipating landing conditions/configuration in advance of arrival, and planning diversions when necessary.

• Airports

  • Local operating decisions for safety and efficiency i.e. snow clearance, de-icing, grass-cutting, re-fueling etc.

• Aerodrome meteorological office(s)

  • Consistent issuing of airfield warnings and alerts as necessary.