Regional Association II (ASIA) - E-Library - WMO

52 ABRIDGED FINAL REPORT OF THE THIRTEENTH SESSION OF RA IICBS on the issues of the collection of CLIMAT andCLIMAT TEMP messages and their disseminationvia the GTS or the Internet. The Associationwelcomed the development of software to encodeand decode CLIMAT and CLIMAT TEMP messagesand requested that, after that had been thoroughlytested, it be distributed to relevant Members of theRegion.15.3.6 The Association urged its Members whohad not yet done so to send their daily historical datafor GSN observations to the WDC-A (World DataCentre, Asheville), as had been requested by theSecretary -General.Oceanographic data exchange policy15.3.7 The Association noted with interest that thetwenty-second session of the IntergovernmentalOceanographic Commission (IOC) Assembly in 2003had, among other things, approved an IOCOceanographic Data Exchange Policy, whichrecognized and was compatible with the WMO policyand practice on the international exchange ofmeteorological and related data and products asexpressed through Resolution 40 (Cg-XII). It recalledthat the Executive Council had expressed itsappreciation to IOC for its efforts in that regard,which would further serve to strengthen cooperationand coordination between the two organizations inthe exchange of relevant geophysical data. It waspleased to note that JCOMM was developing its dataexchange and management mechanisms andprocedures within the context of the data exchangepolicies of both its parent organizations, with aparticular focus on ensuring the full and openexchange of oceanographic data from all sources.Aeronautical meteorological informationexchange15.3.8 The Association noted that the conjointCAeM session/ICAO Meteorology Divisional Meetingheld in 2002 had endorsed Recommendation 4/7that called on ICAO, in consultation with WMO, todevelop guidelines for access to aeronauticalmeteorological information for air navigation supportpurposes only. The Association further recalled thatthe ICAO Council and the WMO Executive Councilhad approved that recommendation in 2003. TheAssociation noted with satisfaction that, as part ofthe implementation of Recommendation 4/6, ICAOhad established the Aviation Use of the PublicInternet Study Group (AUPISG) in September 2003and WMO had agreed to participate in the work ofthat ICAO Group. The Association was informedthat the work of AUPISG would be completed in thenear future.15.3.9 The Association was further informed that,similar to previous guidelines for authorized accessto WAFS satellite broadcasts prepared by ICAO andalready distributed to Members, ICAO haddeveloped guidelines for access to aeronauticalmeteorological information that had been alsodistributed to WMO Members. The Associationnoted with interest that the next step in thedevelopment of comprehensive guidelines related tothe exchange of aeronautical meteorologicalinformation under ICAO responsibility, taking intoaccount Note 3 of Annex 4 to Resolution 40 (Cg-XII),would be the expansion of currently availableguidelines as a result of the work of AUPISG.Recent developments15.3.10 The Association noted that recentdevelopments and initiatives such as those on theexpanded satellite activities which now covered R&Dsatellites and the GEOSS initiative had implicationsfor the free and unrestricted international exchangeof meteorological and related data and products thatwere under consideration.15.3.11 In view of the above, the Associationencouraged Members’ NMHSs and otherorganizations concerned to work closely at nationallevel to ensure the development of well-coordinatedactivities for the implementation of those newinitiatives.15.3.12 The Association was informed that adocument on the concept of the hydrometeorologicalsafety of CIS Member countries hadbeen signed by Heads of Governments on 16 April2004 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The conceptunderlined the role of NMHSs in ensuringhydrometeorological safety as an integral part of thesecurity of States, and the need to strengthen theinternational exchange of hydrometeorologicalinformation in order to improve forecast products.15.3.13 The Association requested the Secretary-General to keep Members informed of any furtherdevelopments in the international exchange of dataand products.15.4 WMO QUALITY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK(agenda item 15.4)15.4.1 The Association recalled that Congresshad decided, by adopting (Resolution 27 (Cg-XIV) —Quality management, that WMO should worktowards a QMF for NMSs that would eventuallyinclude and develop the following distinct thoughrelated elements, which could address, possibly on aphased basis:(a) WMO technical standards;(b) Quality management system(s), includingquality control;(c) Certification procedure(s).15.4.2 The Association noted the deliberationsand decisions on that subject of the fifty-fifth andfifty-sixth sessions of the Executive Council. Asurvey among NMSs to assess the qualitymanagement (QM) activities, plans and requirementsfor assistance through WMO had revealed that morethan forty Members required technical guidance andother assistance from WMO as a matter of urgency.The survey also showed that the implementation of aquality management system (QMS) could bepursued for separate sectors, such as aeronauticalmeteorological, marine meteorological and