Viewpoint: In search of a language that connects *

for there to be good, accurate, timely weather information available to pilots, particularly those of civil aircraft, at the site of their take-off and landing in order that they may operate in safety. With a continuing move towards automation and away from observation of the weather by ‘professionals’ who permanently have an eye on changes in the weather, it is clear that the safety of aircraft will be compromised. Despite the great advances in technology seen in recent years, there is no equipment yet available which can replace a human observer of weather conditions at and in the immediate vicinity of an airfield. Furthermore, the reduction of observed and reported information to a minimum, as currently implied, will reduce the quality of forecasts produced for a growing number of customers of the expanding industry of weather forecasting. The report on the crash of a Boeing 737 at Willenhall, Coventry (Air Accidents Investigation Branch 1996), in 1994 clearly demonstrates the need for pilots to receive weather information quickly after it is observed and regularly on approach to landing, especially in poor weather. The poor visibility around Coventry Airport at the time was a contributing factor in the fatal crash, but the failings of the current system of observing at airports where Meteorological Office staff do not do the weather observations was also expressed. We believe that the Civil Aviation Authority, currently the meteorological authority for aviation in the United Kingdom, should give more thought to the true costs likely to accrue from reductions in the level of information from the Meteorological Office. Perhaps the UK Government should also urgently consider the transfer of authority for meteorology for aviation to the Meteorological Office, the only proper arbiters of the weather.