Article 114 Rep. Eric Avila Attends ICAO Meeting

Article 114 National Weather Representative Eric Avila (Houston Center, ZHU) recently represented IFATCA at the ICAO Meteorological – Panel (MET-P) meeting in Montreal, Canada March 3-7, 2025. This was the panel’s sixth meeting, and it included representatives from 21 countries, Eurocontrol, World Meteorological Organization, International Air Transport Association, and the International Federation of Airlines Pilots Association, among others.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a United Nations agency which helps 193 countries work together and share the skies to their mutual benefit.

Four work groups presented working papers and changes to the ICAO Annex 3 – Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation and the Procedures for Air Navigation Services – Meteorology (PANS-MET) to the MET-P. 

The Work Group on Meteorological Requirements and Development (WG-MRAD) presented requirements for the Hazardous Weather Information Service (HWIS).  HWIS will provide consistent hazardous meteorological hazards across Flight Information Region’s (FIR).  ICAO Annex 3 will require updating to enable the implementation of HWIS.

Additionally, the WG-MRAD is developing new requirements for future aerodrome observation services and forecasts. The future aerodrome observations will replace Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR), Special Weather Report (SPCI), and Terminal Area Forecast (TAF). The group is also working to improve de-icing and long-haul requirements as they relate to aerodrome observations.  In addition, improving forecasting capabilities of low-level and high-altitude ice crystals is ongoing.

The Work Group on MET Information Exchange (WG-MIE) continues to work on developing the requirements for ICAO Meteorological Exchange Model (IWXXM). IWXXM became the global standard for reporting text weather products in 2020.  Currently, text weather products are sent using Traditional Alphanumeric Code (TAC).  TAC is designed to be read by humans, whereas IWXXM is designed to be read by computers. IWXMM provides text using extensible markup language (XML).  The XML code is designed to be read by computers and provide users with the desired text product. 

TAC is planned to be removed as a standard in ICAO Annex 3 and PANS-MET in November 2030. TAC was originally scheduled to be retired in 2026 but the date was moved to 2030.  The panel supported keeping the 2030 date to allow states five years to prepare for the cessation of TAC as the ICAO standard.

The ICAO and WMO have requested that Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAAC) provide detailed information on volcanic ash clouds to inform users how volcanic ash impacts aviation.  Recent improvements in remote sensing and improved science have allowed VAAC forecasters to provide improved detailed volcanic ash forecasts.

Quantitative Volcanic Ash (QVA) will provide high-resolution volcanic ash forecasts every three hours. Additionally, QVA forecasts will provide ash concentration values in 5,000’ layers.  This new improved resolution will support using airspace above volcanic ash clouds (when applicable), which will improve efficiency and reduce air traffic delays. The Work Group on MET Operations (WG- MOG) is working with the VAAC’s to define QVA requirements along with updating the appropriate ICAO documents.

The Work Group on MET Cost Recovery Governance and Guidance (WG-MCRGG) is also working on developing requirements and performance indicators for regional space weather centers.