METG/36 of the EASPG, Istanbul, Türkiye - 22 to 25 September 2026

The Thirty-sixth Meeting of the Meteorology Group (METG/36) of the European Aviation System Planning Group (EASPG) was held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 22 to 25 September 2026. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Türkiye hosted the event.

The event brought together 110 participants representing 47 States, international organizations and aviation stakeholders to review the implementation of aeronautical meteorological services and agree on further actions to advance harmonized meteorological service provision in support of the safety, efficiency and regularity of international air navigation.

Discussions focused on the implementation of Amendment 82 to Annex 3 and the new Procedures for Air Navigation Services — Meteorology (PANS-MET), the provision and operational use of Quantitative Volcanic Ash (QVA) information, the proposed amendments to EUR Doc 019/NAT Doc 006, Part II, Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan (VACP), and the transition to digital meteorological information exchange through the ICAO Meteorological Information Exchange Model (IWXXM) and System-Wide Information Management (SWIM).

The meeting also reviewed the development of guidance and proposed updates to the EUR SIGMET and AIRMET Guide (EUR Doc 014), as well as the revised EUR OPMET Data Management Handbook (EUR Doc 018). These activities demonstrated the substantial work the Group undertook to maintain and further develop regional provisions, guidance material, and operational procedures in support of aeronautical meteorology.

The meeting further reviewed progress in operational meteorological (OPMET) data management, SIGMET and special air-report monitoring, and the implementation of the EUR Air Navigation Plan (ANP), Volume III. Participants emphasized the importance of continued regional and interregional coordination to promote harmonization, interoperability and the consistent implementation of aeronautical meteorological services.