Training for aeronautical met. observers

The Met Office provides four training courses for ATS and aeronautical meteorological staff, all carefully structured to make sure participants gain maximum benefit from the time allotted. All courses are fully recognised by the UK CAA (the UK Met. Authority for Aviation) and are run to the highest professional standards and are available in the UK or abroad.

Aeronautical met. observers from other national met. services can also benefit from our comprehensive training.

Production of aviation weather reports and METARs

A ten-day course for ATS and aeronautical meteorological staff requiring training in order to make fully compliant, accurate aviation weather reports. The acquisition of the necessary skills is achieved through a combination of theory and practical training. Successful trainees will be awarded a met. observing certificate for the production of aerodrome weather reports and METARs.

On completion, participants should be able to:

• observe, report and encode the weather elements required for METAR reports and local ATS reports;
• disseminate fully coded and accurate reports within agreed timescales;
• understand the process and criteria for issuing ‘special’ weather reports;
• demonstrate the ability to make observations at night.

This is an assessed course and uses the guidelines as described in WMO-No.258, in particular WMO 258, Supplement 1: Training & Qualification Requirements for Aeronautical Meteorological Personnel. Trainees successfully completing the course are awarded an aeronautical Met. Observing certificate for the production of aerodrome weather reports that meet the requirements of ICAO Annex 3.

Training is conducted at the Met Office College in Exeter and at our practical training facility at Belfast Airport, alongside an experienced professional observer. Courses can also be arranged at a location of your choice for your organisation.

Production of semi-automated aerodrome weather reports and METARs

Designed for staff of ATS units using a fully integrated semi-automatic observing system, this variable length course develops the skills necessary to observe, report and encode the ‘visual’ elements of the METAR to a standard that meets CAA requirements. Successful trainees will leave with a ‘restricted’ certification for use solely at similarly equipped sites.

On completion, participants should be able to:

• observe, report and encode the ‘visual’ elements required for METAR reports and local ATS reports;
• demonstrate a good knowledge of the other elements making up METAR reports and local ATS reports;
• disseminate fully coded and accurate reports within agreed timescales;
• understand the process and criteria for issuing ‘special’ weather reports;
• demonstrate the ability to make observations at night.

Training is conducted either at the Met Office College, Exeter or on-site at airports.

ATS observer refresher training

A two-day course designed for qualified ATS and aeronautical observers who need to update or refresh their observing skills.

Features:

• Revision of the procedures used to estimate the subjective elements of the METAR.
• Update of the latest coding procedures used in the production of the METAR.
• Enables ATS Observers to maintain compliance with CAA CAP 746 standards.
• Revision of meteorological hazards.

Training takes place at our college in Exeter or on-site at airports.

Met. observer competency assessment programme

A two-day course designed to help ATS units maintain compliance with CAA requirements as laid down in CAP 746 by checking the ongoing competency of individual met. observers.

Features:

• Assessments take place on-site at the ATS unit by a fully qualified Met Office Observer NVQ Assessor.
• CAA approved assessment based on the nationally recognised VQSET NVQ observing competence standards.

On completion you will get a detailed assessment report detailing compliance and recommendations, as appropriate.

Met. Observer Competency Assessment Programme datasheet (PDF, 478 kB)

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