Assistant Director Attended WMO Executive Council Meeting

21 June 2010

Mr SHUN Chi-ming, Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, attended the 62nd Session of the Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) held in Geneva, Switzerland, during 8-15 June 2010. This is the first time Mr Shun attends this meeting in the capacity of President of the WMO Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology (CAeM) after his election in February this year. The Executive Council is the executive body of WMO, comprising permanent representatives from 37 WMO members. Its meetings are held once every year.

At the meeting, Mr Shun reported the top priorities of CAeM in the next four years and made recommendations on the subjects of the terms of reference of CAeM, aeronautical meteorological personnel competency standards, and provision of significant weather warning (SIGMET) to aircraft. After reviewing Mr Shun's report, the Council adopted the recommendations.

Apart from considering the reports submitted by the WMO President, Secretary General and the relevant WMO bodies, the Council also discussed in depth the Icelandic volcanic eruption which seriously affected global air transport. In particular, the Council adopted the establishment of a Volcanic Ash Scientific Advisory Committee to improve the international volcanic ash warning system in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). The Council also reviewed the WMO Strategic Plan 2012-2015, which included Aviation Meteorological Services as one of the five priority areas for WMO.

Shun Chi-ming (first row, third from the right) photographed with Michel Jarraud, Secretary General of WMO (first row, fifth from the left) and other participants attending the WMO Executive Council meeting at the WMO Headquarters.