TNAG-2845-FCO40-4098-Hong-Kong-and-the-International-Civil-Aviation-Organisation--1993 — Page 19

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area forecast system products, based on the Table of Aircraft Operations, the list of aerodromes and alternates and changes to the ATS Plan recommended under Agenda Item 5,6 and 7.

14.2

The requirements for the ASIA and PAC Regions for exchange of operational meteorological (OPMET) data, including the ROBEX scheme, were considered by the ASIA/PAC/2 RAN Meeting (1983) which developed a new Table MET 2 and Table MET 4C and formulated a number of recommendations aimed at increasing the efficiency of OPMET exchanges. However, in the light of the changing pattern of aircraft operations, the plans should be re-examined. OPMET information concerned comprises:

a) OPMET information in character-oriented message format such as

METARS, TAFS, SIGMETS, WINTEMs, etc;

b)

OPMET information in pictorial format such as WAFS significant weather and upper air charts; and

14.3

c)

OPMET information in digital format such as WAFS grid point data.

In the case of sub-paragraphs b) and c) in para. 14.2 above, the meeting is expected to develop the requirements for the exchange of WAFS products, including the approximate volume of data in pictorial and digital grid point format, to meet the requirements of meteorological services at aerodromes given in Table MET 1, and decide how to reflect the exchange requirements in the plan. Proposals will be prepared by the Secretariat to assist the meeting in its discussions on this question.

14.4

The OPMET exchange requirements developed by the MET Committee will be forwarded to the COM Committee so that a telecommunications plan may be developed for the exchange of OPMET information in message format via the AFTN, and for the dissemination of WAFS data in pictorial and digital format as part of the Aeronautical Fixed Service (AFS).

15.

15.1

Item 10. Aeronautical fixed service

A rationalized AFTN plan, based on the planning principles formulated by the COM/MET Divisional Meeting (1982) and a new plan of ATS speech communications, based on the switched network concept, were developed by the ASIA/PAC Aeronautical Fixed Service (AFS)/Aeronautical Mobile Service (AMS) Regional Planning Group (RPG). These plans were approved by the Council and are being implemented. A re-examination of the AFTN and ATS speech circuit plans is required to further rationalize the plans as necessary to satisfy specialized user requirements. In view of the endorsement of the new ICAO CNS/ATM systems concept and the ANC and Council actions thereon, the meeting, while reviewing the AFS plan, is expected to take due account of these requirements which may be expected to emerge in the near future and make provisions as required for the transition to the new environment. The ASIA/PAC AFS/AMS Regional Planning Group will develop suitable material to assist the meeting when considering this item.

15.2

Initial planning for the telecommunication arrangements for the implementation of the world area forecast system (WAFS) in the region has been completed. Detailed planning will need to be undertaken regarding exchanges of WAFS data in character-oriented message format (WINTEMs), as well as in pictorial