New Air Traffic Control Training from the Met Office

The Met Office, a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) certified training organisation, is to launch a Restricted Observing Course for Air Traffic Controllers. The Met Office also announces 2013/2014 dates for its existing programme of CAA approved courses for air traffic services.

The new Restricted Observing Course is a five day session designed for ATS units using a fully integrated semi-automatic observing system. It aims to develop the skills required to observe, report and encode the visual elements of the Meteorological Aviation Report (METAR) to a standard that meets CAA requirements. The new course will take place at Belfast International Airport.

The long established 10 day Air Traffic Services Course trains aerodrome personnel to become accredited meteorological observers in accordance with the requirements stipulated by the Directorate of Airspace Policy, CAA to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. The course uses a combination of five days of theory training at Met Office headquarters in Exeter and five days of interactive, practical training at Belfast International Airport to enable delegates to make fully compliant and accurate aviation weather reports.

Qualified ATS and aeronautical observers can update their practical observing and coding skills by attending the Met Office Air Traffic Services Refresher two day training course. Plus the Met Office’s one day Air Traffic Focal Point course provides advice and guidance on airport meteorology competency checks and focuses on understanding the different ways and methods of complying with regulations. Both courses take place at the Met Office College in Exeter. Furthermore all the observing courses can be delivered at a customer’s chosen location anywhere in the UK or overseas.

David Gibbs, Aviation Business Manager at the Met Office, says, “Our training courses are designed to equip air traffic control personnel with the specialist meteorological knowledge they need to help maintain the safe, orderly and smooth flow of air traffic. Personnel develop interpretation skills and understanding that enable airport operations to continue safely, with minimal disruption during adverse weather conditions, to keep flights moving in the global air traffic control system.”

Course dates:

Restricted Observing Course

· 25 - 29 November 2013 · 13 - 17 January 2014

Met Office Air Traffic Services Refresher

· 3 - 4 December 2013· 29 - 30 April 2014

Air Traffic Services

· 3 - 7 February 2014· 3 - 7 March 2014

Air Traffic Focal Point Training

· 5 December 20131 May 2014

All Met Office training courses for Air Traffic Control are focussed and intense so staff are not removed from their operational duties for longer than necessary.

To book courses please email: moc.enquiries@metoffice.gov.uk