HKO provides training on Aviation Meteorological Services

Nine meteorologists from Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kenya, Mongolia, Nepal, Niue Island, Republic of Korea, Tanzania, and Trinidad and Tobago have just completed a training course running on aviation meteorological services organised by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO).

The course began on July 25 and ended today (July 29).

This is the seventh professional training courses organised by HKO for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The recent course on aviation weather services was launched in November, 2004, and repeated this year to meet the overwhelming demand from a number of countries.

Mr Sospeter Muiruri, a participant from Kenya, said he had benefited considerably from the Hong Kong Observatory's experience in the provision of aviation weather services. "I am extremely impressed with the application of advanced technology by the Observatory, in particular the development of the windshear alerting system."

Scientific Officer of the HKO and one of the lecturers, Mr Chan Sai-tick said the course provided an excellent opportunity for HKO to share its experience with other countries and enhance the development of quality meteorological services for aviation.

In 2002, HKO was one of the first aviation weather services providers in the world awarded the ISO 9001 certification. It also installed at Chek Lap Kok airport the world's first Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system for alerting windshear in fine weather in the same year.

HKO colleagues are also playing key roles in international organisations such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation and WMO. The provision of this training course reflects the recognition of HKO's work by the international meteorological community.

The training course aims at improving aviation meteorological services all over the world. The course participants are expected to take Hong Kong's experience back to their own countries and contribute to the development of their own aviation weather services. This will further enhance flight safety and efficiency around the world.

Participants taking part in Hong Kong Observatory's training course on aviation meteorological services