Meteorological Authority Office

Find out what the Office does, and apply for certification of airport weather stations and runway visual range systems

On this page

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.

Sunset view of airplane on airport runway under dramatic sky in Hobart, Tasmania.

To help keep aviation safe, automatic weather observing systems at airports in Australia and its territories must be approved by the Bureau

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.

AirportWeather station typeCertificate holder
MelbourneRunway visual range systemAustralia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) Pty Ltd
Sydney/Kingsford SmithRunway visual range systemSydney 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 stationVaisala Pty Ltd
Brisbane
Canberra
Perth
Runway visual range systemVaisala Pty Ltd
Barimunya
Coondewanna
Djarindjin/Lombadina
Doomadgee
Golden Grove
Mount Keith
West Musgrave
Automatic weather stationDTN Company Australia Pty Ltd
GinbataTemperature-only automatic weather stationDTN Company Australia Pty Ltd
Sunshine CoastThreshold anemometer RWY 13DTN Company Australia Pty Ltd