MANAIR: Manual of Standards and Procedures for Aviation Weather Forecasts

Eighth Edition, Amendment 3, March 2024

MANAIR specifies procedures, practices and formats to be used in the preparation of aviation weather forecasts. It serves as a precise standard for the operational meteorologist who produces Canadian aviation weather forecasts. It also provides necessary information for those who deliver aviation weather services.

Originating authority:

Prediction Services Directorate

Issued under the authority of the Assistant Deputy Minister

Meteorological Service of Canada

Crown Copyrights Reserved

Available formats:

For access please contact us at: MANAIR@ec.gc.ca

Author: Government of Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada

Language of document: Bilingual – English/French

Document type: Manual

Pages: 213

Year: 2024

Summary of the eighth edition

Foreword

The Manual of Standards and Procedures for Aviation Weather Forecasts (MANAIR) specifies procedures, practices and formats to be used in the preparation of aviation weather forecasts. It serves as a precise standard for the operational meteorologist who produces Canadian aviation weather forecasts. It also provides necessary information for those who deliver aviation weather services.

This manual is used within Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as a standard for operational meteorologists producing aviation weather forecasts, and for informational purposes for users who deliver Canadian aviation weather services. Revisions and amendments will be issued when warranted. All holders of the manual are responsible for keeping their copies current. When revisions and amendments have been entered, they are recorded on the page entitled “Record of Amendments.”

Amendments

Amendments will be issued when warranted, and a review will take place in conjunction with amendments relevant to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. All holders of the manual are responsible for keeping their copies current. When amendments are entered in the manual, they should be recorded on the page entitled “Record of Amendments.”

The version of the Manual published on the Government of Canada web site, in either official language, shall be considered to be the official version.

Changes, additions, deletions, and corrections will be issued as necessary solely by the Meteorological Service of Canada after consultation and coordination with Transport Canada (TC), NAV CANADA (NC), and the Department of National Defence (DND).

Inquiries

Inquiries about the content of this manual should be directed to the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Meteorological Service of Canada, through appropriate channels.

Chapter 1 Introduction

This chapter details the purpose of the manual and specifies its relationship to the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) and to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 3 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The chapter also lays out the responsibility of Transport Canada, NAV CANADA and DND for the aviation weather forecast program. Finally, the chapter discusses the producers and types of aviation weather forecast as well as defining the role of an Aeronautical Meteorological Forecaster (AMF).

Chapter 2 Aerodrome forecast (TAF)

This chapter provides a complete description of a Canadian aerodrome forecast. The reader will find information on the observational requirements to establish an aerodrome forecast, its format, preparation and coding standards, as well as the criteria for TAF modification and cancellation.

Chapter 3 Forecasts in digital form of the winds and the temperatures aloft

This chapter provides a description of the forecasts in digital form of the winds and the temperatures aloft and their use. The bulletins format and meteorological content are clearly explained.

Chapter 4 Graphic Area Forecast (GFA)

The GFA is designed primarily to meet general aviation and regional air carrier requirements for pre-flight route planning in Canada. These charts graphically describe the most probable meteorological conditions expected to occur between the surface and 24,000 feet over a given area at a specified time. The reader will find in chapter 4 the information required to decode, understand and use the content of the graphic area forecast.

Chapter 5 SIGMET information

A SIGMET is an information message issued by a meteorological watch office (MWO) to advise pilots of the occurrence or expected occurrence of specified weather phenomena, which may affect the safety of aircraft operations, and the development of those phenomena in time and space. The reader will find in chapter 5 the information required to decode, understand and use the content of a SIGMET.

Chapter 6 AIRMET information

An AIRMET is an Information message issued by a meteorological watch office (MWO) to advise pilots of the occurrence or expected occurrence of specified weather phenomena which may affect the safety of aircraft operations and were not already included in a Graphic Area Forecast (GFA), and the development of those phenomena in time and space. The reader will find in chapter 6 the information required to decode, understand and use the content of an AIRMET.

Chapter 7 Significant weather prognostic charts

Forecasts in chart or pictorial form depict, with greater clarity than verbal, the most probable forecast conditions over large areas. Forecast of significant enroute weather phenomena prepared as SIG WX charts are primarily designed to meet requirements for preflight planning. The reader will find in chapter 7 the information required to decode, understand and use the content of the significant weather prognostic charts.

Chapter 8 Definitions

Chapter 8 contains the definitions of terms according to their use in MANAIR.