The branch of meteorology that deals with atmospheric effects on the operation of vehicles in the atmosphere, including winged aircraft, lighter-than-air devices such as dirigibles, rockets, missiles, and projectiles. The air which supports flight or is traversed on the way to outer space contains many potential hazards.

Aerodrome: A defined area on land or water (including any buildings, installations and equipment) intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft.

Aerodrome elevation : The elevation of the highest point of the landing area

Aerodrome meteorological office: An office, located at an aerodrome, designated to provide meteorological service for international air navigation.

Aeronautical meteorological station : A station designated to make observations and meteorological reports for use in international air navigation.

Meteorological watch offices (MWO – Met Watch Office) : A Contracting State, having accepted the responsibility for providing air traffic services within a flight information region or a control area, shall establish one or more meteorological watch offices, or arrange for another Contracting State to do so.

A meteorological watch office shall:

1. maintain watch over meteorological conditions affecting flight operations within its area of responsibility;
2. prepare SIGMET and other information relating to its area of responsibility;
3. supply SIGMET information and, as required, other meteorological information to associated air traffic services units;
4. disseminate SIGMET information;
5. prepare AIRMET information related to its area of responsibility;
6. supply AIRMET information to associated air traffic services units; and
7. disseminate AIRMET information;
8. supply information received on pre-eruption volcanic activity, a volcanic eruption and volcanic ash cloud for which a SIGMET has not already been issued, to its associated ACC/FIC, as agreed between the meteorological and ATS authorities concerned, and to its associated VAAC as determined by regional air navigation agreement; and
9. supply information received concerning the accidental release of radioactive materials into the atmosphere, in the area for which it maintains watch or adjacent areas, to its associated ACC/FIC, as agreed between the meteorological and ATS authorities concerned, and to aeronautical information service units, as agreed between the meteorological and appropriate civil aviation authorities concerned. The information shall comprise location, date and time of the accident, and forecast trajectories of the radioactive materials.

For our Country Ankara/Esenboğa and İstanbul/Atatürk

Meteorological offices : Each Contracting State shall establish one or more aerodrome and/or other meteorological offices which shall be adequate for the provision of the meteorological service required to satisfy the needs of international air navigation.

An aerodrome meteorological office shall carry out all or some of the following functions as necessary to meet the needs of flight operations at the aerodrome:

1. prepare and/or obtain forecasts and other relevant information for flights with which it is concerned; the extent of its responsibilities to prepare forecasts shall be related to the local availability and use of en-route and aerodrome forecast material received from other offices;
2. prepare and/or obtain forecasts of local meteorological conditions;
3. maintain a continuous survey of meteorological conditions over the aerodromes for which it is designated to prepare forecasts;
4. provide briefing, consultation and flight documentation to flight crew members and/or other flight operations personnel;
5. supply other meteorological information to aeronautical users;
6. display the available meteorological information;
7. exchange meteorological information with other meteorological offices; and
8. supply information received on pre-eruption volcanic activity, a volcanic eruption or volcanic ash cloud, to its associated air traffic services unit, aeronautical information service unit and meteorological watch office as agreed between the meteorological, aeronautical information service and ATS authorities concerned.
9. The aerodrome meteorological offices at which flight documentation is required, as well as the areas to be covered, shall be determined by regional air navigation agreement. users;
10. The aerodromes for which landing forecasts are required shall be determined by regional air navigation agreement.