About the Meteorological Authority Office
We help Australia meet its responsibilities under the Convention on International Civil Aviation 1947 (the Chicago Convention).
Designated meteorological authority
The Convention supports safe, regular and efficient international air navigation. Countries that have signed the Convention must have a designated meteorological authority. The role of the authority is to:
- coordinate the provision of meteorological services for aviation
- ensure the service complies with international standards and practices. These are set out in Annex 3 to the Convention – Meteorological Service for Air Navigation.
The Bureau is the designated meteorological authority for Australia.
Role of our Meteorological Authority Office
The Meteorological Authority Office ensures the Bureau fulfils its role as Australia's designated meteorological authority. For information about the Bureau's meteorological services for aviation, view our Aviation sector page.
It also helps the Director of Meteorology approve automatic weather stations at airports in Australia – see Certification services on this page.
Certification services
Automatic weather stations and runway visual range systems at airports in Australia and its territories must be approved by the Bureau.
The Bureau makes these decisions for the purposes of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR). This legislation is the overarching aviation safety framework in Australia.
To support the Director, the Meteorological Authority Office:
- processes automatic weather observing system approval applications
- conducts independent compliance audits
- makes recommendations to the Director.
Apply for a Certificate of Approval
Use these documents and forms to understand the process and make your application.
Need an accessible version of these documents? Contact us about your needs.
Approved weather stations at airports
Bureau weather stations at airports are approved to make weather reports. The Meteorological Authority Office has also approved these automatic weather stations to make weather reports for the purpose of CASR, for use by aviation.
This list of approved stations is effective 17 July 2024.
Airport | Weather station type | Certificate holder |
---|---|---|
Melbourne | Runway visual range system | Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) Pty Ltd |
Sydney/Kingsford Smith | Runway visual range system | Sydney Airport Corporation Limited |
Boolgeeda Brisbane West Wellcamp Bunbury Chinchilla Christmas Creek Eliwana Fortescue Dave Forrest Gruyere Gudai-Darri Mine Airport Inverell Iron Bridge Mine Koolan Island/Koolan Central Solomon The Granites Tooradin Tropicana West Angelas | Automatic weather station | Vaisala Pty Ltd |
Brisbane Canberra Perth | Runway visual range system | Vaisala Pty Ltd |
Barimunya Coondewanna Djarindjin/Lombadina Doomadgee Golden Grove Mount Keith West Musgrave | Automatic weather station | DTN Company Australia Pty Ltd |
Ginbata | Temperature-only automatic weather station | DTN Company Australia Pty Ltd |
Sunshine Coast | Threshold anemometer RWY 13 | DTN Company Australia Pty Ltd |