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WAFSOPSG/5-DP/8
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/ WAFSOPSG/5-DP/8
18/9/09

WORLD AREA FORECAST SYSTEM OPERATIONS GROUP (WAFSOPSG)

FIFTH MEETING

Paris, France, 16 to 18 September 2009

Agenda Item / 8: / Future work programme

DRAFT REPORT

WAFSOPSG/5-DP/8
(Draft)
Report on Agenda Item 8 / 8-1
Agenda Item / 8: / Future work programme

8.1The group reviewed its work programme. It was noted that two types of changes had been introduced thereto:

a)Format. Concerning the format, it had been aligned to the ICAO Knowledge Shared Network (IKSN) where tasks were expressed in terms of “deliverables”. The group took note of the fact that the Secretary had made a number of changes to align the formulations of the new IKSN environment; and

b)Updates. With regard to any need for amendments, the group concurred that work on the following tasks could be considered completed and should therefore be deleted:

1)“improvements to resolutions of WAFS forecasts” (with Amendment 75 to Annex3); and

2)“increased lead time of SIGWX forecasts” (with Amendment 75 to Annex3).

8.2Furthermore, the group noted that tasks related to replacement of WAFS significant weather (SIGWX) forecasts and the migration plan to the GRIB 2 code form had been deleted as independent tasks since they had been merged into closely related deliverables.

8.3With regard to need for additional items, the group agreed that in the future, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) NextGen/Eurocontrol SESAR programmes would have a profound impact of the issuance and distribution of all operational meteorological (OPMET) information, including the representation and coding of WAFS forecasts. In particular, the influence of such concepts as “4-dimensional weather data cube” and “single authoritative source”, together with the need to harmonize the OPMET information with the aeronautical information service (AIS) data for flight planning purposes, was expected to be substantial and would have to assessed from the WAFS point of view. Therefore, the group agreed that a new deliverable entitled “migration plan to the NextGen/SESAR” should be added to its work programme.

8.4On the completion of this review, the group formulated the following decision:

Decision 5/19 — Update of the work programme of the WAFSOPSG
That, the work programme (“deliverables”) of the WAFSOPSG be replaced with that shown in Appendix G to this report.

8.5In order to initiate work on the new task related to the NextGen/SESAR programmes, the group formulated the following conclusion:

Conclusion 5/20— Assessment of the influence of the NextGen/SESAR on the future of WAFS
That, the Secretariat, in coordination with the WMO Member of the WAFSOPSG, prepare an assessment of the expected impact of the NextGen/SESAR Programmes on the future of WAFS, in time for the WAFSOPSG/6 Meeting.
Note. ─ Such concepts as the “4-dimensional weather data cube” and “single authoritative source”, together with the need to harmonize the OPMET information with the AISdata for flight planning, are to be considered in this context.

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WAFSOPSG/5-DP/8
Appendix to the Report on Agenda Item 8 / 8 -1

APPENDIX G

WORK PROGRAMME (DELIVERABLES)

O = task related to the implementation (“roll-out”) aspects of WAFS

D = task related to the development aspects of WAFS

Task number / Deliverables / Description / Source of task
WAFSOPSG-01 (O) / WAFS management reports; reports related to the roll-out of WAFS / every 18 months, issuance of reports related to:
3)WAFC management;
4)roll-out of the international satellite communications system (ISCS);
5)roll-out of the migration plan to the GRIB 2 code form; and
6)roll-out of other aspects of WAFS, as necessary. and
7)implementation of QMS. / MET/02: 1/6; 161-12
WAFSOPSG-02 (O) / updated ICAO provisions / development of updated ICAO provisions (Annex 3 SARPs, guidance material and regional procedures) to ensure their compatibility with the evolving world area forecast system (WAFS) / MET/02: 1/6; 161-12
WAFSOPSG-03 (D) / improved WAFS forecasts for cumulonimbus clouds, icing and turbulence / Improved forecasts for cumulonimbus clouds, icing and turbulence making use of improved model resolution;
replacement of WAFS SIGWX forecasts by WAFS forecasts for cumulonimbus clouds, icing and turbulence / MET/02: 1/10; 161-12;
WAFSOPSG 3/17; 174-1;
APANPIRG 19/43 b); 180-7;
WAFSOPSG 1/26; 165-9
WAFSOPSG-04 (D) / improved visualization of WAFS forecasts in flight documentation / development of an improved visualization of WAFS forecasts in flight documentation by:
1)studying ways and means to ensure that the most relevant WAFS forecasts be presented in terms of space and time, in particular to meet the needs for long-haul flights; and
2)1)introducing a web-based distribution of WAFS forecasts to ensure that all States, including LDCs, continue to have access to these forecasts / WAFSOPSG 3/13 b) & 3/19; 174-1
WAFSOPSG-05
(D) / migration plan to the NextGen/ SESAR / development of a migration plan to ensure that WAFS be aligned to the future NextGen/SESAR environment / WAFSOPSG 5/19; 183-

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