AMOSSG/5-SN No. 5

Appendix B

APPENDIX B

FRAMEWORK FOR GUIDANCE ON THE GLOBAL MIGRATION TO THE USE AND EXCHANGE OF BINARY UNIVERSAL FORM FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF METEOROLOGICAL DATA (BUFR) CODED OPMET MESSAGES

1.	INTRODUCTION

1.1	The European Air Navigation Planning Group (EANPG) at its forty-fifth Meeting held in Paris, 1 to 3 December 2003 formulated the following Conclusion:

Conclusion 45/12 —	MIGRATION TO BUFR CODED OPMET MESSAGES

That, ICAO give guidance to achieve a uniform global approach to the implementation of binary universal form for the representation of meteorological data (BUFR) coded operational meteorological (OPMET) messages, including early advice of the likely time-frame for the development of the provisions necessary for air traffic services message handling service (ATSMHS) extended services to accommodate BUFR coded messages.

1.2	The responsibility for providing a framework for the global migration to table-driven codes (including BUFR) lies with WMO under the arrangements described in Working Arrangements between the International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Meteorological Organization (Doc 7475).

1.3	The framework endorsed by the WMO Congress included a timetable for the migration to table-driven codes and specified that such codes could be used, for States in a position to do so, from 2007 and in parallel with the traditional alphanumeric codes and that fully operational use of the codes was planned for 2015. It is proposed to include provisions to allow the use of BUFR code for the dissemination of METAR/SPECI, TAF and SIGMET by States in a position to do so under bilateral agreements and in addition to the required dissemination using alphanumeric codes as a part of draft Amendment 74 to Annex 3 (applicable in November 2007).

1.4	The Aeronautical Communications Panel (ACP) is invited to establish a global plan for the introduction of BUFR coded OPMET messages in response to the Conclusion formulated by the EANPG. A suggested outline of such a plan is given in paragraph 2.

2.	SUGGESTED OUTLINE OF A GLOBAL PLAN FOR THE MIGRATION TO THE USE OF BUFR CODED OPMET MESSAGES

2.1	Amendment 74 to Annex 3 (2007)

2.1.1	Provisions to allow the use of BUFR coded METAR/SPECI, TAF and SIGMET in addition to alphanumeric dissemination between States under bilateral agreement.

2.2	Amendment 75 to Annex 3 (2010)

2.2.1	Provisions for the exchange of OPMET data in BUFR between the International OPMET databanks in Brasilia, Brussels, Dakar (yet to be implemented), Pretoria (yet to be implemented),Vienna and Washington and the Regional OPMET databanks in Bangkok, Brisbane, Nadi, Singapore and Tokyo as well as the satellite distribution system for information relating to air navigation (SADIS) and international satellite communications system (ISCS) uplink sites. These provisions would be as recommended practices.

2.3	Amendment 76 to Annex 3 (2013)

2.3.1	Provisions in 2.2.1 above to become standards;

2.3.2	Provisions for all States to issue OPMET data in BUFR to the appropriate OPMET databank. These provisions would be as recommended practices.

2.4	Amendment 77 to Annex 3 (2016)

2.4.1	Provisions in 2.3.2 above to become standards.

Note.— Consideration should be given to the use of the public Internet.

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