BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

 A Collaboration and Consultation Meeting was successfully held between the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMET), the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI) and Solomon Airlines Stakeholders.

The Aviation Meteorological Services consultation meeting was held at the Weather Forecasting Office, Vavaya Ridge in Honiara on Wednesday, 14 May.

Mr. Solomon Sammy, the Quality Assurance Manager for Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMS), said the aim is to discuss the continuous improvements that would contribute to the safety, regularity and efficiency of civil air navigation services in Solomon Islands.

He said that the objective of the discussion is to provide a working paper or report for the ICAO/APAC Meteorology Sub-Group 29 Meeting in August this year in Bangkok, Thailand.

He said that the paper will provide a report and evidence to close the Open ICAO deficiency AP-MET-20 registered under the Solomon Islands since 2008.

He said Solomon Islands will provide a working paper that will allow the meeting to discuss the closing of the ICAO APANPIRG Air Navigation deficiency related to the provision of WAFC forecasts in the Solomon Islands.

“Solomon Islands already addresses and implements the ICAO deficiency by providing Pilot Briefing Meteorological information and products to the Airlines. This also includes the weather charts and forecasts from the World Area Forecast Centre (WAFC) in Washington,” said Sammy.

He said that the outcome of the meeting required:

1. SIMS to request the Secretariat for ICAO/Asia & Pacific office, in coordination with the ad hoc group on air navigation deficiencies to assist the Solomon Islands in preparing the appropriate report detailing the rectification of the deficiency.

2. Solomon Airlines to provide an evidential report acknowledging and confirming the reception of the products and services provided by SIMS for Aviation Meteorological Services.

“As part of the ongoing support, continual improvements that would contribute to the safety, regularity and efficiency of civil air navigation services in Solomon Islands. The following has been put in place:

“Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM).

“The Letter of Agreement (LOA) between Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMS) and Solomon Islands Airport Corporation Limited (SIACL).

“The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMS) and Solomon Airlines.

“The annual stakeholder meetings between SIMS, CAASI, SIACL and Solomon Airlines,” he said.

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