ICAO 10003

ENGLISH

FOREWORD

This first edition of the Manual on the Digital Exchange of
Aeronautical Meteorological Information is published in
response to the introduction of the exchange of aeronautical
meteorological information in a digital form as part of Amendment
76 to Annex 3 — Meteorological Service for International Air
Navigation, applicable 14 November 2013. As of this date,
aerodrome routine and special meteorological reports (METAR and
SPECI, including trend forecasts (TREND)), aerodrome forecasts
(TAF) and information concerning en-route weather phenomena which
may affect the safety of aircraft operations (SIGMET), may be
exchanged in a digital form by States that are in a position to do
so.

In the case of METAR, SPECI and TAF, their digital exchange is
in addition to their current required exchange in the METAR, SPECI
and TAF code forms, respectively, prescribed by the World
Meteorological Organization. In the case of SIGMET, their digital
exchange is in addition to their current required exchange in
abbreviated plain language.

Where States are in a position to exchange METAR, SPECI, TAF and
SIGMET in a digital form, Annex 3 requires that the information be
formatted in accordance with a globally interoperable information
exchange model, use extensible markup language (XML)/geography
markup language (GML), and be accompanied by the appropriate
metadata. This manual is intended to assist States in each of these
three respects.

The availability of aeronautical meteorological information in a
globally interoperable digital format is seen as a key enabler for
future global air traffic management within a system-wide
information management (SWIM) environment. Consequently, the
enabling of the digital exchange of METAR, SPECI, TAF and SIGMET
can be viewed as the first step towards the transition of all
required aeronautical meteorological information to a digital form
and its integration into a SWIM environment. Future amendments to
Annex 3 are therefore expected to enhance and expand the digital
exchange provisions introduced as part of Amendment 76. This manual
will, consequently, be subject to periodic review and amendment to
ensure necessary alignment with the evolving Annex 3 provisions in
this regard.

The content of the manual was developed over a period of two
years primarily through the input of the ICAO Meteorological
Aeronautical Requirements and Information Exchange Project Team
(MARIE-PT). Expertise from airline and pilot representative
organizations and regional programmes for air transport
modernization, and detailed technical expertise from the World
Meteorological Organization and elsewhere was utilized. The manual
was peer-reviewed by various domain experts.