ICAO with Tonga Meteorological Services hosted a workshop workshop on new model ^Featured

This workshop primarily focused on the introduction of the new ICAO Meteorological Information Exchange model (IWXXM) to Tonga’s Aviation Service Providers and to strengthen their co-ordinations to provide a more efficient and improved services to ensure the safety of lives of the aviation community and to the people of Tonga.

The presence of ICAO here in Tonga particularly in this workshop is to provide technical assistance to Tonga to support the development and implementation of the Meteorological Exchange Information (IWXXM) of Tonga’s aviation service providers such as the Tonga MET Services (TMS), Tonga Airport Limited (TAL) and the Civil Aviation Division (CAD).

This would also enhance the efficiency of implementing meteorological services here in Tonga which is being stipulated under the ICAO Annex 3 framework and to increase ICAO’s outreach programs to its 193 member states of which Tonga is a member of.

During the opening session of this three days’ workshop, the Acting CEO of MEIDECC stated “that one of our core responsibilities is to improve meteorological information exchanges and co-ordination between our institutions locally and internationally. 

Without good meteorological information exchange models, communication protocols and co-ordination between Tonga’s Aviation Service Providers and Stakeholders this would hinder our everyday services to the aviation community and to people of Tonga.

We are all here today because of the critical roles that each of our respective institution or agencies plays in the need to improve our Aviation Services and to ensure the safety of lives of our people in terms of the various aviation related services that we provide in the aviation community.”

With this keynote address, one of the milestone outcomes from the intensive three days’ workshop was developing the framework that would enhance the directives for the coordination between Air Traffic Services (ATS) and the Meteorological offices and stations and their responsibilities for the provision of meteorological service for international and national air navigation.

This will be a big success for the Tonga MET Services soon once this framework is being formalized and has undergone quality assurance measures.

Through the collaboration being undertaken here between ICAO and the Tonga MET Services, this will not only enhance our aviation forecasting operations, but it will also pave the road map to achieving certification of the Tonga MET Services under the Part 174 Civil Aviation Rules (CAR).

It was a very constructive three-day workshop and has re-kindled the aviation flames and collaborations between the Aviation Service Providers of Tonga with Tonga MET Services leading on with the mindset that the meteorological services we provide is to contribute to the safety, regularity and efficiency of civil air navigation in Tonga.