Aviation Regulated Services

CAA responsibilities

UPDATED: 06.08.2020 – COVID-19-Reversion of temporary changes to UK aviation forecast products

The Met Office has maintained highly resilient aviation MET support to UK aviation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
All temporary changes previously agreed with the CAA in conjunction with UK Government advice have now been reverted.

The Met Office and the CAA will continue to review the ongoing situation, and will respond rapidly to any updated Government advice.
Please direct any enquiries about this to [email protected]

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 
• Low-level significant weather forecasts
• Winds and temperature forecasts for fixed locations
• Text-based aviation forecasts (GAMET) - review the FAQs and an example forecast
• Specialist forecasts for balloonists
• Services for helicopters – offshore, search and rescue, Police and air ambulance
• Airfield climate statistics
• Training resources for pilots and GETMET

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

The Met Office has developed plans for the provision of aviation services and capabilities under designation from CAA for EU Reference Period 3 (RP3), covering the period January 2020 to end 2024. The document available here includes feedback on these plans from stakeholders.

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 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 how we are working collaboratively with NOAA to determine the future of the World Area Forecast System (WAFS).

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,