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.