Aviation Regulated Services
We are a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) designated provider of meteorological services, a World Area Forecast Centre and a Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre.
CAA responsibilities
NR23 Consultation 2023-2027
The Met Office has developed plans for the provision of aviation services and capabilities under designation from CAA for NR23, covering the period January 2023 to end December 2027. To read more about NR23, visit the NR23 webpage.
Please see below the Met Office NR23 consultation document which formed the basis of the consultation meeting on Wednesday 24 November 2021.
Aviation Industry Consultation
Met Office Users' Forum
The Met Office Users' Forum (MOUF) is the principal consultation forum on the aeronautical meteorological products and services provided by the Met Office on behalf of the CAA.
The forum is open to all those who use these products and services, including UK airline, airport and ATS provider representatives, and is held annually.
To find out more about MOUF, visit the Aviation Industry Enagement webpage.
Aeronautical meteorology - services for low-level aviation
Airports, airlines and pilots have access to a wide range of weather information to assist with the planning and safe conduct of flights in UK airspace:
- Aviation Briefing Service
- Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) for airports
- Warnings of hazardous weather conditions at airports and aerodromes
- Short-term landing forecasts (Trends) for selected airports
- Winds and temperature forecasts for fixed locations
- Specialist forecasts for balloonists
- Services for helicopters – onshore, offshore, search and rescue, Police and air ambulance
- Airfield climate statistics
- Training resources for pilots
We are seeking feedback from users of our ballooning forecast products. Please click to access the feedback survey.
Network Weather Resilience (NWR)
NWR is a web portal which combines Met Office aviation data information with weather map data. The aim of NWR is to enable access to consistent UK met data for all stakeholders (airlines, airports and ATM) operating within UK airspace to optimise weather impact decision-making. This is being made available free-at-point-of-use, under the Met Office’s regulated remit, in agreement with the CAA.
To read more about NWR, register your organisation, create an account or log in - visit the NWR webpages.
Met Watch Office (MWO)
We are an ICAO Met Watch Office responsible for the provision of en route weather products such as SIGnificant METeorological (SIGMET) hazards for aircraft within the UK Flight Information Region.
Air Traffic Management
We provide bespoke products and advice for National Air Traffic Services (NATS) to:
- assist with the safe and efficient routing of air traffic over the UK and North Atlantic
- minimise the impact of adverse weather across UK airspace
Other services provided on behalf of the CAA
- technical advice on meteorological issues
- support at ICAO working groups and panels
- audits of meteorological observation facilities at UK aerodromes
- supplying weather information to assist with weather related investigations
- aviation research and development
- information on the performance of our forecasts
International data distribution via SADIS
The Secure Aviation Data Information System (SADIS) supplies World Area Forecast System (WAFS) and OPerational METeorology (OPMET) data to aviation users in Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. This is an FTP system which is delivered and maintained exclusively by the Met Office.
Speak to our team on 0370 900 0100 from inside the UK, or +44 330 135 000 from outside the UK or email [email protected].
World Area Forecast Centre (WAFC)
The Met Office is one of only two World Area Forecast Centres (WAFC) and is known as WAFC London - the other is WAFC Washington (NOAA). Since 1984, we have provided international forecasting services to meet Annex 3 to the ICAO Convention on Civil Aviation.
We supply:
- global forecasts of upper winds and temperatures for flights throughout the world, helping to optimise safety and fuel consumption
- significant weather data (SIGWX) charts
Find out more about our role as a WAFC and the changes to the WAFS SIGWX forecasts that are coming up in November 2024.
WAFC London Performance Indicators
London Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
The London VAAC is an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) designated centre, responsible for issuing advisories for volcanic eruptions originating in Iceland and the north-eastern corner of the North Atlantic. We are one of only 9 Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres worldwide.
The London VAAC has specialist forecasters who produce volcanic ash advisories and guidance products using a combination of volcano data; satellite-based, ground-based and aircraft observations; weather forecast models and dispersion models. The volcanic ash forecasts are provided to the standards and tolerances set by the regulator, and support decision-making by the CAA as the lead agency, NATS and airlines.
London VAAC provides a reciprocal back-up facility with Toulouse VAAC, operated by Meteo France.
- Issued Volcanic Ash Advisories (VAA/VAG)
- Concentration charts
- Annotated satellite images
- Toulouse VAAC Issued Volcanic Ash Advisories (VAA/VAG)
SESAR Projects
Learn about how the UK Met Office is working alongside other National Meteorological Services (NMS) to provide consistent weather information across Europe through the SESAR projects,
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We are available 24/7.
0370 900 0100Email us
Fill out this short form and we'll get back to you.
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