To solicit views from the pilots in respect of their requirements on the uplinking of meteorological information to cockpit, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) conducted a survey from 1 February to 15 March 2004. A total of 66 returns were received from pilots. A brief summary of the survey results is presented below:

(a) A majority of aircraft that the pilots fly is already equipped with datalink facilities, such as Aircraft Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) and Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC);

(b) Most pilots considered that the existing meteorological products and services provided by HKO are acceptable to them;

(c) Pilots considered it desirable to have information on aerodrome weather, windshear and turbulence alerts, and SIGMET updated frequently at intervals of 1 hour or less. As to wind/temperature forecast and SIGWX forecast, the desirable update frequency are longer, i.e. at intervals of 1 to 6 hours; and

(d) Based on the priority indicated by pilots, the first five most needed meteorological information/products for uplink to the cockpit are (Fig.1):