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The new version of ICAO Annex 3 (i.e. 18th edition) requires that a quality management system (QMS) of the aeronautical meteorological services be established by the Contracting State. Among other perspectives of quality measurement, gauging the accuracy of forecasts, in particular terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAF), is indispensable.
To meet the QMS requirement, there is surging demand for forecast verification software. To save duplication of effort in developing the verification software, the Hong Kong Observatory has contributed by sharing its TAF verification software at the CBS software exchange registry (under the "Global Data-processing Forecasting System" category) of the World Meteorology Organization (WMO) for WMO Members. WMO Members can contact Mr. P. Cheung (email: pcheung@hko.gov.hk) for a copy of the software package.
The software decodes forecast weather elements in TAF and verifies them against METARs and generates individual and combined performance scores making reference to desirable accuracy requirement stipulated in ICAO Annex 3. Currently, the software package has been distributed to more than 10 countries and regions for use by over 30 airports.
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