World Meteorological Organization
Joint ET-ETC/ET-GOV/Doc. 5.1(2)
COMMISSION FOR AERONAUTICAL
METEOROLOGY
10.XI.2015
Joint Meeting of ET-ETC and ET-GOV
Wellington, New Zealand
30 November – 3 December 2015
ITEM 5
English only
EXPECTED KEY DELIVERABLES
Expert Team on Education, Training and Competency
ET-ETC Task 3.1.1 - BIP-M Compliance
(Submitted by J. Stander and C. Webster)
Summary and Purpose of Document
This document supports discussion at the Joint Meeting by providing
history and background on issues related to BIP-M compliance for
organizations employing AMF.
ACTION PROPOSED
The meeting is invited to read the status update, and provide feedback on the process for
BIP-M compliance.
_______________
Joint ET-ETC/ET-GOV/Doc. 5.1(2), p. 2
1.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
(Text to be included in the Final Report of the meeting)
2.
PROGRESS/ACTIVITY REPORT
According to the ET-ETC Terms of Reference, the team is: ‘To provide guidance on
the implementation of WMO standards and recommended practices related to the
competency and qualifications of aeronautical meteorological personnel.’ Mr Chris Webster
and Mr Jannie Stander are responsible for the related Task 3.1.1 on qualifications.
To date, time has been spent on researching information around a guidance process
for BIP-M implementation by any NMHS or training institution.
As a starting point, the discussion amongst the ET-ETC and ETR office revolved
around which document and versions thereof are to be used when assessing BIP-M
compliance. A good process was outlined in a letter to PR’s (Ref: ETR/BIP-M) of 21 January
2015, but additions were made to align it to the outcomes of EC-64 (2012) noting the
commencement dates of BIP-M courses rather than the completion dates. One of the issues
was which WMO publication/edition should organizations refer to for the components of the
BIP-M based on commencement date of their BIP-M course. We have from EC-64 (2012)
part 4.6.20:

Personnel commencing BIPs Pre 1st January 2007:
as described in WMO-No. 258, 4th edition (Chapter 1.1, Basic Assumptions part
(C))

Personnel commencing BIPs between 1st January 2007 and 30th November
2013: as described in WMO-No. 258, 4th edition or WMO Technical Regulations
(WMO-No. 49), Vol. I

Personnel commencing BIPs Post 30th November 2013:
as described in WMO Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49), Vol. I.
During this time, there has been a good example where one of the Members within
RA-I (Tanzania) has followed the guidance/process from the ETR office. The University of
Pretoria (UP) had already gone through the process of equating their courses to the BIP-M
so as to demonstrate compliance for students within South Africa. Students from Tanzania
who had obtained a BSc or BSc Hons Meteorology qualification at UP were thus provided
with letters of compliance. The letter from UP, together with documents from the Tanzania
Meteorological Agency, are a great example of how a meteorological service and feeder
university have responded to the 2016 qualification requirement for AMF.
This example was shared with the WMO ETR focal points as well as with RTCs as an
example of an organization that employs AMF approaching its training institute to obtain a
statement of compliance.
A flow chart (in Annex) was developed that is intended to form part of a more
structured guidance document yet to be developed. Issues that are addressed in the flow
process and need to be further elaborated upon in the guidance would be:
a)
In addition to a signed “statement of compliance” asserting that courses comply with
the BIP-M, what other evidence will organizations require to demonstrate that they
Joint ET-ETC/ET-GOV/Doc. 5.1(2), p. 3
followed a mapping process to ensure each AMF complies?
b)
How should organizations incorporate courses delivered as CPD when demonstrating
compliance?
c)
When should organizations consult with the national regulator for advice on the
substance and frequency of their audits of this requirement?
d)
What role should the PR take?
e)
How do we ensure that organizations maintain their qualification documents within a
QMS?
f)
How long after BIP-M course completion should it reasonably take an organization to
show that individuals comply?
g)
What practical guidance should the ET-ETC provide? e.g., should we propose a twostep process:
(i) list the components of the BIP-M and the courses that map back to each of these
components, and;
(ii) provide evidence of individual AMFs having completed each course.
h)
What can organizations do when records are missing?
These items can be discussed at the meeting.
The flow chart was circulated amongst the team to accommodate all viewpoints.
Because the qualification deadline is getting close, the flow chart was then uploaded
onto the CAeM Moodle site, and distributed to ETR focal points and RTCs. The flow chart
can be further discussed at the ET-ETC meeting in order to refine it as part of a future
publication.
3.
No.
Task
3.1.1
ACTION/PLANS/RESPONSIBILITIES WITH DELIVERABLES
Action
Support Members and
training institutes in
achieving the 1 Dec.
2016 qualification
requirement for AMFs.
Responsibility
Jannie Stander
and
Chris Webster
_______
Deliverables
Raised profile of
deadline, all requests
for support responded
to, and guidance
developed on what will
be required to be
compliant
Deadline
up to &
beyond
Dec 2016
Joint ET-ETC/ET-GOV/Doc. 5.1(2), ANNEX
Joint ET-ETC/ET-GOV/Doc. 5.1(2), ANNEX, p. 2