Tool 23 - Observe and Record Aeronautical Meteorological Phenomena and Parameters

2.1 – Effective observation routine

2.1a – Observing winds, wind shear, variability and gusts

2.1b – Observing visibility

2.1c – Observing significant weather phenomena

2.1d – Observing clouds

2.1e – Observing temperature and humidity

2.1f – Observing barometric pressure

2.1g – Observing supplementary information

2.2 – Interpretation of sensor data

2.3a – Observations issued on time

2.3b – Observations issued with correct code/format

2.3c – Observations are within special amendment criteria

The AMO is closely followed during one or more operational shifts to appreciate the observations of weather parameters and the issuance of aeronautical meteorological messages. 

Assessor comments:

Include subjective comments on difficulty of observing weather.  For a complex meteorological situation assessment might differ from a simple situation.  For example, during a shift without significant weather, experiential questions might be posed in order to assess other criteria such as other aspects of 1.1, QMS 3.1, 4.1, etc.

2.1 – Effective observation routine	- uses appropriate observation technique for the weather parameter	-uses instrumentation correctly	- uses a consistent routine and documents data	-focuses on areas of most significant weather	-Obtains all data before compiling report
2.1a – Observing winds, wind shear, variability and gusts	-uses appropriate techniques	-accurately assesses wind speed	-accurately assesses wind direction	-accurately assesses gustiness and variability	-accurately assesses shear  conditions where applicable (directional, speed)
2.1b – Observing visibility	-applies daytime and night procedures for measurement and or estimation of prevailing, directional and vertical visibility	-correctly reports visibility hourly and issues special reports at appropriate changes in threshold values	-has knowledge of RVR instrumentation is able to   evaluate and report RVR data
2.1c – Observing significant weather phenomena	-uses appropriate techniques	-correctly identifies precipitation type	-accurately measures precipitation amount	-accurately assesses phase changes	-correctly correlates precipitation type and rate with visibility	-correlates precipitation and runway conditions	-observes and reports other significant weather phenomena (as defined in ICAO annex 3)
2.1d – Observing clouds	-uses appropriate techniques	-correctly identifies cloud type	-accurately evaluates cloud amount and opacity	-accurately assesses height of cloud bases and tops	- notes cloud elements impacting aviation (embedded CB, ACSL over ridges)
2.1e – Observing temperature and humidity	-uses appropriate techniques	-accurately measures temperature	-accurately measures dewpoint	-accurately measures / calculates humidity	-accurately measures maximum temperature	-accurately measures minimum temperature
2.1f – Observing barometric pressure	-uses appropriate techniques	-accurately measures station pressure	-accurately correlates equivalent sea level pressure	-accurately correlates altimeter setting	-accurately measures pressure changes	-accurately evaluates pressure tendency
2.1g – Observing supplementary information	-knows and correctly encodes the type of phenomenon
2.2 – Interpretation of sensor data	-uses appropriate techniques for various sensor types
2.3a – Observations issued on time	-issues routine hourly weather reports on time (METAR)	-special reports issued on time (SPECI)	-coded synoptic reports issued on time (SM)	-accurate content
2.3b – Observations issued with correct code/format	-issues routine hourly weather reports in correct  METAR format	-issues special reports in the correct SPECI format	-issues synoptic in the correct SM coded format	-ensures accurate content	-correctly amends errors
2.3c – Observations are within special amendment criteria	-knowledge of amendment criteria	-timely response at appropriate threshold values	-consistent with regulations (local/international)	-communicates amendments to designated users