International Training on Aviation Impacts at COMET

The COMET Program continues to support aviation training around the world by focusing on forecasting a variety of atmospheric phenomena and their impacts on aeronautical operations. Our efforts are preparing forecasters to meet the Aeronautical Meteorological Forecasters competencies outlined in WMO-No. 49, Volume I. We have organized existing training related to these competencies in the Review of Aeronautical Meteorology Distance Learning Course. In addition, we are working with a number international agencies to identify additional training needs, and are adapting current training to new locations and topics for of interest to international audiences.

Two major efforts related to the new forecaster competencies include a partnership with the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) to support their Aeronautical Continuing Professional Development (Aero CPD) blended learning course and our contribution to the Safe Skies for Africa Project. The six-month long Aero CPD course was successfully delivered from September 2011 to April 2012. The COMET Program's support of the course included creating the course website, adapting existing modules to include aspects of tropical meteorology, and developing Caribbean case studies.

Using best practices and content developed for the Aero CPD course, COMET is adapting the Review of Aeronautical Meteorology Distance Learning Course for the needs of African nations. We are revising courses that use FAA guidelines to incorporate ICAO and WMO regulations related to aviation forecasting products. Some new content is being developed on Nowcasting and aviation en-route flight hazards. Another module under development focuses on the impacts of weather on aviation operations in the U. S. National Airspace System and the roles different aviation forecasters play in customer decision support. The module models communication with customers using appropriate terminology through briefings and other issued products.

This abstract was funded by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research under cooperative agreement award #NA06NWS4670013 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NOAA or any of its sub-agencies.