CAeM/MG-2015/Doc. 4.1.3, p. 3

World Meteorological Organization / CAeM-MG/2015/Doc. 4.1.3
COMMISSION FOR AERONAUTICAL METEOROLOGY / 12.05.2015
MANAGEMENT GROUP
Cape Town, South Africa
12-14 May 2015 / ITEM 4.1
English only

EXPERT TEAMS’ REPORTS

Report on ET-ETC

(Submitted by Chris Webster and Pat Murphy)

Summary and Purpose of Document
This document provides a summary of recent and projected activities of the CAeM Expert Team on Education, Training and Competency during inter-sessional period 2014-18.

ACTION PROPOSED

The Management Group (MG) is invited to comment on:

·  Task 2.1.1: the proposed review process in Annex 1;

·  Task 3.1.1: the approach to take in guiding Members in achieving the 1 December 2016 qualification deadline for AMFs;

·  Any other Tasks, as necessary;

·  The proposal for a joint face-to-face meeting of ET-GOV and ET-ETC in Wellington.

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CAeM/MG-2015/Doc. 4.1.3, p. 3

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The new team was established during the fifteenth session of the Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology held in Montreal, Canada, in July 2014.. Two months afterwards, the CAeM family was very saddened to learn of the passing of nominated co-chair Cynthia Abelman. The vacant position was filled by Pat Murphy, initially from NOAA and subsequently FAA in the United States.

The co-chairs selected an experienced and talented group of core members and one invited expert. Key tasks have been identified and accountabilities have been assigned.

As noted in a previous ET-ETC report, competency assessment has been a primary focus over the past several years. For the current inter-sessional period, education and training activities should return to the forefront.

2. PROGRESS/ACTIVITY REPORT

(i) An initial teleconference with the new team was held before Christmas 2014, to introduce team members and present a draft work-plan based on the identified priority areas.

(ii) Two further teleconferences have been held so far in 2014, in February and April, kindly set up by MPM. When assigning accountabilities, as far as possible the team members’ interests were matched with identified tasks. The most recent meeting reviewed early progress with the various tasks.

(iii) Key tasks include the following:

Task 1.2.1. Continue the global programme of workshops to assist Members with implementation of competency assessments

KC and CW, together with KJ and IL, delivered a successful Competency Assessment workshop for RA-III in Argentina in Nov 2014. See report at: https://www.wmo.int/aemp/?q=node/57.

On completion of this event, personnel representing CAeM had delivered workshops on implementation of Competency Assessment of Aeronautical Meteorological Personnel (AMP) in all WMO Regional Associations.

Task 2.1.1. Review AMP Competency Standards implementation documents

AH and CW have together reviewed the implementation guidance documents and FAQs, and drafted a process for a broader review based on eliciting feedback from the international AMP community.

The proposed process is included as Annex 1 to this report.

Task 2.1.2 Develop a consistent process for dealing with requests from NMHSs and similar agencies for reviews of AMP educational documentation

PB and KC reported at the April teleconference that they are developing a process that they are confident will be able to respond to any such request. Completion is expected in Aug/Sept 2015.

Tasks 2.1.3 & 4 Maintain the ET-ETC Education & Training Website (http://www.caem.wmo.int/moodle/), and AMP Competency Training Mapping Database (http://forum.14.caem.wmo.int/post14web/etet/master_list/web/)

RW and CCL have continued in these roles from the previous inter-sessional period. Their dedication and enthusiasm is greatly appreciated.

Task 3.1.1 Support Members and training institutes in achieving the 1 Dec 2016 qualification requirement for AMFs

JS and CW have reflected and exchanged views, to explore how to go about this ground-breaking task. KC and the ETR office have been included in the loop.

Issues currently being grappled with are:

a)  In addition to a signed “statement of compliance” asserting that courses comply with the BIP-M, what documentary evidence will organisations require to demonstrate that they followed a mapping process to ensure each AMF complies?

b)  Which WMO publication/edition should organisations refer to for the components of the BIP-M based on commencement date of their BIP-M course? Relevant text from WMO-No.49 and EC-64 is reproduced in Annex 2 to this report.

c)  How should organisations incorporate courses delivered as CPD when demonstrating compliance?

d)  When should organisations consult with the national regulator for advice on the substance and frequency of their audits of this requirement?

e)  What role should the PR take?

f)  How do we ensure that organisations maintain their qualification documents within a QMS?

g)  How long after BIP-M course completion should it reasonably take an organisation to show that individuals comply?

h)  What practical guidance should the ET-ETC provide? E.g, should we propose a two-step 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.

i)  What can organisations do when records are missing? Some options:
(i) formal testing for prior learning,
(ii) supervised work and performance monitoring for a specified period,
(iii) requiring individuals to undertake part of or all of a course that is currently compliant with the BIP-M, or
(iv) an assessed "top-up" or "refresher" course to ensure that the identified gaps with the BIP-M are addressed.

It is hoped that the MG will provide further guidance on this task.

Task 3.3.1 Investigate translation of further educational materials into official WMO languages?

MPM, RW, CCL have indicated willingness to assist with translation of materials into Spanish, French and Chinese, respectively.

An ICAO representative from the workshop referred to in Task 1.2.1 has kindly translated selected CAeM resources into Spanish. These have been reviewed and posted onto the CAeM education & training web-site.

Work-plan: Communication strategies

The co-chairs of ET-GOV and ET-ETC propose a joint 4-day face-to-face meeting in Wellington, hosted by the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Ltd. Possible dates are in the week commencing Mon 30 November.

CAeM/MG-2015/Doc. 4.1.3, ANNEX 2

ET-ETC WORKPLAN ACTIVITY 2: DOCUMENTATION

Milestone 2.1: Maintain and review documentation

Task 2.1.1: Review AMP Competency Standards implementation documents

Accountability: AH, CW

Deliverables: Documents & FAQs reviewed and made available for WMO publication

AH and CW have prepared the review process below, which is intended to be both clear and transparent:

1.  Insert paragraph numbers into the original documents (for tracking comments on the pdf).

2.  Provide a table for entry of comments.

3.  When inviting feedback:
- contact all Regional Training Centres (contact through KC),
- contact all regional liaison people (through team members), and
- start a new thread on the CAeM discussion forum,
stating the need to review the two implementation guidance documents. Invite comments by <date 3 weeks later>.

4.  Incorporate feedback already prepared by AH and CW (including dropping “implementation” from name, so documents become “Guidance on AMP Competency Standards”).

5.  Add agenda item at ET-ETC meeting to discuss feedback, and to elicit comment directly from ET-ETC core members.

6.  Seek feedback on updated FAQs (incorporating AH and CW’s thoughts) from ET-ETC.

7.  Consolidate all feedback, including:
- feedback from IL about global language proficiency Standards (Sept 2013),
- possibly ask for feedback on material in 258 Sup 1 that’s worth keeping and not already in other documents (e.g. WMO-No.49 Volume II) ?

8.  AH and CW prepare a draft update of the implementation guidance and FAQs, and remove paragraph numbers. Save draft as version 1.

9.  Send draft to ET-ETC by email and, following email exchange, ET-ETC agrees on the updated version.

10.  If changes are minor, co-chairs of ET-ETC endorse update as the final version. If there are significant changes, co-chairs request endorsement from CAeM MG.

11.  RW formats the documents and posts them onto the CAeM moodle website.

12.  DI coordinates inclusion of the updated guidance into a new publication: “WMO Guide on Competency”.

ET-ETC WORKPLAN ACTIVITY 3: SUPPORT

Milestone 3.1: Support Members on Dec 16 qualification requirement

Task 3.1.1: Support Members and training institutes in achieving the 1 Dec 2016 qualification requirement for AMFs

Accountability: JS, CW

Deliverables: Raised profile of deadline, all requests for support responded to, and guidance developed on what will be required to be compliant

  1. Relevant extracts from WMO-No.49 Technical Regulations Volume I – General Meteorological Standards and Recommended Practices, 2011 edition, updated 2012:

Meteorologist. A person who has successfully completed the requirements of the Basic Instruction Package for Meteorologists (BIP-M) at university degree level.

5.1.1 Members, taking into consideration the area and airspace of responsibility, the impact of meteorological phenomena and parameters on aviation operations, aviation user requirements, international regulations, local procedures and priorities, should ensure that an aeronautical meteorological forecaster has successfully completed the Basic Instruction Package for Meteorologists as defined in Appendix D.

Note: This provision, which defines the requirements for underpinning qualifications, will become a standard practice on 1 December 2016.

Appendix D describes the components of the BIP-M (and BIP-MT)

2.  In its final report, EC-64 (2012) directed in part 4.6.20:

Key dates for classification of staff as Meteorologists or Meteorological Technicians

4.6.20 Noting the discussion by the ETR Panel the Council reconfirmed the key dates and conditions for personnel to be classified as a Meteorologist or Meteorological Technician.

·  Personnel commencing BIPs Pre 1 January 2007

as described in WMO-No. 258 4th edition (Chapter 1.1, Basic Assumptions part (C))

·  Personnel commencing BIPs between 1 January 2007 and 30 November 2013

as described in WMO-No. 258 4th edition or WMO Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49), Vol. I

·  Personnel commencing BIPs Post 30 November 2013

as described in WMO Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49), Vol. I.