MA10 - Standard Operating Procedures Guidance
MA10 - Standard Operating Procedures Guidance
MA10 Standard Operating Procedures Guidance Version 0.4
Published by the Bureau of Meteorology 2016 Cover Photo : Stratocumulus at sunrise – J.Darnley 2013
© Commonwealth of Australia 2016 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced without prior written permission from the Bureau of Meteorology. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Production Manager, Communication Section, Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289, Melbourne 3001. Information regarding requests for reproduction of material from the Bureau website can be found at www.bom.gov.au/other/copyright.shtml
MA10 Standard Operating Procedures Guidance Version 1.0
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Revision history
Date Version Description Author
14 December 2016 1.0 First Version John Darnley
Document management register
Document File reference
MA10 Standard Operating Procedures Guidance
60/001248 – Publications – Aviation – Meteorological Authority – Publications
Review Status
Reviewer Date Reviewed Version Reviewed
Helen Tseros (SRQM) 12 January 2016 0.1
Carey Robinson (ADE) 02 June 2016 0.2
Chris Stocks (a/DDC) July 2016 0.3
Release Signatories
Approval Name Signature Date
CEO and Director of Meteorology
Dr Andrew Johnson
14 December 2016
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Contents ................................................................................................................................. 2
Glossary ................................................................................................................................. 3
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 5
2 Standard Operating Procedure notes............................................................................. 7
3 Standard Operating Procedure requirements ................................................................. 8
4 Information required for application by operators ........................................................... 9
4.1 Part A - General ................................................................................................. 9 4.2 Part B – Authorisation Requirements ................................................................. 9
References ........................................................................................................................... 12
Contact Details ..................................................................................................................... 13
Contents
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Abbreviation Description
Annex 3 Annex 3 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation – Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation
AWS Automatic Weather Station
AWS System means the AWS Systems used to measure meteorological elements such as wind direction, wind speed and gusts; dry bulb and dew-point temperature and/or relative humidity; barometric air pressure; visibility; cloud amount and height; rainfall; present weather and lightning;
Automated means to operate independently of human assistance;
Bureau Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Director The Director of Meteorology
CAR Civil Aviation Regulation
CASA Civil Aviation Safety Authority
CEO The person in whom the authority of the aviation meteorological reporting service is vested.
Director The Director of Meteorology
Erroneous meteorological information
Any meteorological information that is or has the potential to be outside the allowable accuracy or tolerance for that information.
ERSA En-Route Supplement Australia
Exposition of Compliance Documentary evidence of procedures, processes and standards applicable to the operation of the meteorological reporting service.
Facility Any system or equipment that provides an automatic function that supports a meteorological office or provides meteorological reports.
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization
METAR Meteorological Aerodrome Report
Meteorological Authority The authority providing or arranging for the provision of meteorological services for international air navigation on behalf of a Contracting State. In Australia, the designated Meteorological Authority is the Bureau of Meteorology.
Meteorological observations The evaluation of one or more meteorological elements.
Meteorological Authority Office
The office of the Bureau responsible for coordinating requests for authority to provide a meteorological service for international air navigation on behalf of a Contracting State.
Meteorological Report A statement in support of aviation of observed meteorological conditions related to a specific time and location.
Meteorological Reporting Service
A service for the supply of meteorological observations and/or reports in support of aviation.
Notification of Differences Any differences between the national practices of a Contracting State to the international standards contained in Annex 3, notified with ICAO.
QMS Quality Management System
SMS Safety Management System
SPECI Special Meteorological Aerodrome Report
Glossary
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Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Documentation specifying the procedures for the operation and maintenance of the meteorological reporting service.
WMO World Meteorological Organization
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1.1 This document provides guidance to prospective companies on the development and
content of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) required by organisations seeking
authorisation from the Director of Meteorology to provide a limited automated aviation
meteorological reporting service for aviation in Australia. An automated aviation
meteorological reporting service may be either an Automatic Weather Station (AWS) System
and/or Runway Visual Range (RVR) System.
1.2 Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, Regulation 120 (CAR 120) states:
120 Weather reports not to be used if not made with authority
(1) The operator or pilot in command of an aircraft must not use weather
reports of actual or forecasted meteorological conditions in the planning, conduct and
control of a flight if the meteorological observations, forecasts or reports were not
made with the authority of:
(a) the Director of Meteorology; or
(b) a person approved for the purpose by CASA.
Penalty: 5 penalty units.
(2) An offence against subregulation (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code
1.3 Annex 3 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation outlines the standards and
recommended practices pertaining to meteorological services for international air navigation.
1.4 Annex 3 specifies that each Contracting State shall designate the authority,
hereinafter referred to as the Meteorological Authority, to provide or to arrange for the
provision of meteorological services for international air navigation on its behalf. In Australia,
the Bureau of Meteorology (Bureau) is the designated Meteorological Authority.
1.5 In order for the Director of Meteorology (Director) to make an assessment of the
application for authorisation of aviation meteorological reporting services, it is a requirement
that the interested party provides documentation detailing the intention of the proposed
services, procedures and processes that will be used as well as any other supporting
material.
1.6 It is a requirement that all aviation meteorological reporting service providers
authorised by the Director will comply with standard and recommended practices of Annex 3
and Australian Notification of Differences with particular reference to the Technical
Specifications in the Appendices. It is also a requirement that all aviation meteorological
reporting service providers authorised by the Director state any differences against Annex 3
in their Exposition of Compliance and/or SOP as well as the reasons for the differences.
1.7 The following Meteorological Authority documents should also be referred to when
composing and before submitting a Standard Operating Procedure:
MA2 – Authorisation Process
MA3 – Application for Authorisation
MA4 – Automated Aviation Meteorological Reporting Services Authorisation
MA5 – Guidance for Gaining Aviation Meteorological Service Authorisation
1 Introduction
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MA6 – Exposition Guide and Compliance Matrix.
MA8a – Instrument Siting Requirements for Automatic Weather Stations
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2.1 Organisations applying for authorisation to supply, install, maintain and monitor
automated aviation meteorological reporting services are required to complete and submit to
the Meteorological Authority an Exposition of Compliance.
2.2 Meteorological Authority document MA4 Automated Aviation Meteorological
Reporting Services Authorisation provides information on the composition of an Exposition of
Compliance and guidance procedures for organisations seeking authorisation to provide
meteorological services for aviation in Australia.
2.3 An Exposition of Compliance will include documentation specifying the intention of
the proposed service with procedures and processes that will be used, along with any other
supporting material.
2.4 The Meteorological Authority will conduct an audit of the organisation seeking
authorisation, based on its Exposition of Compliance, to determine its suitability to be granted
authorisation.
2.5 Operators seeking limited authorisation to operate and monitor automated aviation
meteorological reporting services for aviation reporting must first have engaged an
organisation authorised by the Director to supply, install and maintain the automated aviation
meteorological reporting services.
2.6 Operators seeking limited authorisation to operate and monitor automated aviation
meteorological reporting services, are required to submit to the Meteorological Authority a
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document based on the requirements of this
document, MA10 - Standard Operating Procedures.
2.7 The SOP allows the Meteorological Authority to assess each operator’s capacity to
operate their automated aviation meteorological reporting services in accordance with
international and national standards and recommended practices.
2.8 The Meteorological Authority will conduct an audit of the operator seeking limited
authorisation to operate and monitor automated aviation meteorological reporting services,
based on their SOP.
2.9 Final authority to operate and monitor an automated aviation meteorological reporting
services is dependent upon authorisation being granted to both the organisation supplying,
installing and maintaining the automated aviation meteorological reporting services, and the
organisation seeking to operate and monitor an automated aviation meteorological reporting
services.
2.10 Part 4 of this document sets out the requirements of the Meteorological Authority for
organisations seeking authorisation to operate and monitor only an automated aviation
meteorological reporting services.
2 Standard Operating Procedure notes
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The following lists the information that is required by the Standard Operating Procedure with
the appropriate references as well as the suggested order in which they should appear.
Information MA4 Refs
1. CEO Statement and organisation details MET.51(2)(a & b)
2. Personnel requirements
a. Organisational chart MET.51(3)
b. Senior Persons duties and responsibilities, lines of
responsibility and summary of applicant’s staffing structure. MET.51(3)(a - c)
3. Details of applicant’s procedures and systems:
i. Qualifications and competence of personnel MET.51(4)(a & b)
ii. Site requirements MET.53
iii. Communication requirements MET.55
iv. Control of documentation MET.63(2)
v Verification, inspection, testing and calibration MET.65
vi. Notification of meteorological facility status MET.69
vii. Meteorological information checks after accident or incident MET.71
viii. Malfunctions and erroneous information MET.73
ix Maintenance of records MET.75
x. Quality management MET.77
xi. Meteorological Reporting Service MET.79(1)(c)(ii)
xii Meteorological Services Information MET.79(1)(c)(iii)
xiii. Changes to certificate holder’s details MET.107
3 Standard Operating Procedure requirements
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4.1 Part A - General
4.1.1 MA4 Automated Aviation Meteorological Services Reporting Authorisation sets out
the requirements for organisations seeking authorisation to become a provider of an
automated aviation meteorological service. Part A of MA4 provides background information
that is relevant to providers and operators and should be read prior to developing an
authorisation application document.
4.1.2 Document MA6 Exposition Guide and Compliance Matrix is available from the
Meteorological Authority Office or at www.bom.gov.au/met-authority/publications.shtml which
will be of assistance to applicants in creating their application document.
4.2 Part B – Authorisation Requirements
4.2.1 Operators are required to provide the following information in the Standard Operating
Procedure.
4.2.2 MET.51(2)(a & b) – Personnel Requirements – CEO signed statement
This part requires details of the senior persons who are responsible for the meteorological
reporting service being provided. Operators of automated aviation meteorological reporting
systems will be required to provide the following:
1. A signed statement by the company CEO or designee confirming that the Standard Operating Procedure will be complied with for the service being provided. For example:
(The enclosed Standard Operating Procedure for (Name of aerodrome) defines how (Company Name) will comply with the relevant requirements of the Meteorological Authority for the provision of a meteorological reporting service for aviation. We hereby commit that the provisions set out in this Standard Operating Procedure, and all referenced documentation will be adhered to at all times by (Company Name) in its capacity as a provider of a meteorological reporting service for use by aviation under CAR120)
2. An organisational chart to show the reporting structure of the organisation and persons
responsible for the operation of the aviation meteorological reporting service.
4.2.3 MET.51(3)(a – c) – Personnel Requirements – Roles & responsibilities Clearly outline the job descriptions, duties and responsibilities of the senior staff as depicted in the organisational chart. This is to include the lines of responsibility to the CEO and Director of Meteorology.
4.2.3 MET.51(4)(a & b) – Personnel Requirements – Qualifications and competencies.
Establish procedures to assess the qualifications and maintain the competence of personnel
who work directly with the aviation meteorological reporting systems. Include the requirement
for the organisation providing training and assessment to describe in detail what training has
been provided, how staff were assessed and deemed competent as well as evidence that the
staff attended the training (ie their signature on a training sheet).
4 Information required for application by operators
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4.2.4 MET.53 – Site Requirements
Provide details of site security and power supply systems that support the aviation
meteorological reporting system.
4.2.5 MET.55 – Communications Requirements
Provide details of the communication system and local procedures to rectify any faults. (Eg.
Resetting of modems that can be done without the need to contact the maintenance
provider).
4.2.6 MET.63(2) – Control of documentation
Provide details of the procedures to amend the Standard Operating Procedure and record
the amendment history. Including the:
1. nature of the amendment; 2. revision number in numeric order; 3. corresponding issue date; and 4. name and responsibility of the person(s) checking the amendments.
Detail the process of who will sign off the amendment including their authorisation to do so,
once the amendment checks have been completed.
4.2.7 MET.65 – Verification, inspection, testing and calibration
The periodic verification, testing and calibration work required by this section will be
performed by your consultant contractor. The Meteorological Authority requires information
on:
1. Training and qualifications of local staff performing daily and weekly inspections. 2. Daily and weekly inspection routines. 3. Details of records of daily and weekly inspections. 4. Process for notifying your consultant contractor of a fault that requires their
intervention.
4.2.8 MET.69 – Notification of meteorological facility status
Provide details (procedures, contact details including names, phone numbers, and emails)
on how to notify users of the data if the system is offline (faults or routine maintenance) and
when it is back on line. This is to include a faults phone number for insertion in ERSA and an
email for fault reporting for the Bureau.
4.2.9 MET.71 – Meteorological information check after accident or incident
Provide details of procedures and checks to be carried out as soon as possible in the event
of an aviation accident or incident at the aerodrome.
4.2.10 MET.73 – Malfunctions and erroneous information
Provide details on procedures related to reporting and rectification of malfunctions and
erroneous information.
4.2.11 MET.75 – Maintenance of records
Provide details on procedures to identify, collect, index, store, maintain and dispose of
records that are necessary for the supply of meteorological reporting services listed in the
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Standard Operating Procedures. This will include how and where daily and weekly
maintenance/check sheets are recorded and for how long they are kept.
4.2.12 MET.77 – Quality Management
It is an ICAO requirement that a Quality Management System (QMS) is in place to ensure
there is sufficient quality control relating to the operation of the automated aviation
meteorological reporting service. Provide details of company Quality Management System
(such as ISO 9001:2008) and a copy of the certificate if one exists. Details of a Safety
Management System (SMS) as required by CASA are also acceptable. Provide details here
of your QMS or SMS.
4.2.13 MET.79(1)(c)(ii) – Meteorological Reporting Service
Describe briefly the aviation meteorological reporting service being provided (indicating who
will be operating the system and method of reporting (OMD or NVP)).
4.2.14 MET.79(1)(c)(iii) – Meteorological Services Information
Describe briefly the location of the automatic weather station (airport name) and its intended
use to report meteorological data for aviation purposes.
4.2.15 MET.107 – Changes to Certificate holder’s details
Provide details on the procedure to notify the Director of Meteorology of any changes to the
Standard Operating Procedures.
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Annex 3 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation - Meteorological Service for
International Air Navigation, International Civil Aviation Organization
Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, Volume 3, part 10 – Air Traffic Services and other
services, Division 2 – Meteorological Services, Regulation 120 – Weather reports not to
be used if not made with authority;
MA2 – Authorisation Process
MA3 – Aviation Meteorological Reporting Services - Application Form
MA4 – Aviation Meteorological Reporting Services Authorisation
MA5 – Guidance for gaining Aviation Meteorological Services Authorisation
MA6 – Exposition Guide and Compliance Matrix
MA13 – Meteorological Authority Office Fee Schedule, Bureau of Meteorology.
References
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Meteorological Authority Office Strategy, Parliamentary, International and Communication Branch Australian Bureau of Meteorology PO Box 1289 Melbourne VIC 3001 AUSTRALIA Tel +61 3 9669 4000 [email protected]
Contact Details