Purpose of the Role
The incumbent will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of all meteorological services supporting airline operations. The role ensures that weather intelligence, forecasting, risk assessment, and decision support services are delivered in accordance with DGCA regulations, ICAO Annex 3 standards, airline operational requirements, and industry best practices.
This role involves ensuring timely and accurate meteorological information dissemination, maintaining data systems, and leading a team responsible for forecasting, documentation, and real‑time aviation weather support. The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical capability, attention to detail, and the ability to manage critical operational dependencies in a high‑intensity aviation environment.
Educational Qualification
Essential
- Master's Degree in Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, Atmospheric Physics, Applied Meteorology, Physics, Mathematics, or an equivalent scientific discipline
- Having done basic and advanced Aviation forecasters courses at IMD or defense services
Preferred
- Specialized qualification or certification in Aviation Meteorology
- Training in ICAO Annex 3, WMO aviation meteorology standards, or equivalent aviation weather forecasting programs
Work experience
Essential
- Minimum 15 years of experience in meteorology, of which at least 5 years should be in aviation meteorology and in team handling
- Experience supporting airline operations, Aerodrome Meteorological Offices (AMO), Meteorological Watch Offices (MWO), Air Navigation Service Providers, IMD, military aviation, or equivalent aviation environments
Preferred
- Experience in an airline OCC environment
- Prior team leadership experience
- Exposure to network operations, dispatch functions, and disruption management
Technical Competencies
- Aviation Weather Forecasting
- ICAO Annex 3 Standards
- DGCA Regulatory Requirements
- METAR/SPECI Interpretation
- TAF Preparation and Analysis
- SIGMET & Hazard Forecasting
- Convective Weather Analysis
- Tropical Meteorology
- Flight Planning Weather Support
- Weather Radar Interpretation
- Numerical Weather Prediction Models
- Weather Impact Analytics
- Crisis and Emergency Response Management
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic Thinking
- Operational Decision Making
- Safety Leadership
- Stakeholder Management
- Crisis Management
- Analytical Problem Solving
- Team Development
- Influencing and Collaboration
Key Responsibilities
Operational Meteorological Support
- Lead the provision of 24x7 meteorological support to OCC and Flight Dispatch functions.
- Ensure timely interpretation and dissemination of aviation weather information including:
- METAR/SPECI
- TAF
- SIGMET
- AIRMET
- Significant Weather Charts
- Tropical Cyclone Advisories
- Volcanic Ash Advisories
- Winds and Upper-Air Forecasts
- Provide operational guidance for weather-related disruptions, diversions, delays, cancellations, route amendments, and recovery plans
- Support dispatchers and flight crews in evaluating weather impacts on safety, fuel planning, alternates, and operational efficiency
Safety and Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure compliance with applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), ICAO Annex 3, WMO standards, and company operational manuals.
- Act as the focal point during DGCA audits, IOSA audits, safety reviews, and regulatory inspections relating to aviation weather services.
- Establish and maintain meteorological SOPs, manuals, contingency plans, and quality assurance processes.
- Monitor adherence to regulatory standards governing meteorological information used for flight planning and operational control.
Strategic Weather Risk Management
- Develop weather risk assessment frameworks for network operations.
- Identify emerging meteorological risks affecting operational reliability and safety.
- Lead seasonal readiness planning for:
- Monsoon operations
- Fog and low-visibility operations
- Thunderstorm activity
- Cyclones
- Extreme temperature events
- Provide executive-level weather briefings to Operations Leadership and Crisis Management Teams.
OCC Decision Support
- Serve as the principal weather advisor during operational disruptions and emergency situations
- Participate in Integrated Operations Control Centre decision-making forums
- Support network-wide operational recovery through proactive weather analytics and forecasting
Technology and Analytics
- Lead implementation and optimization of aviation weather technologies and decision-support tools
- Drive digitization initiatives involving:
- Weather dashboards
- Predictive weather analytics
- Early warning systems
- AI-enabled forecasting solutions
- Operational impact modelling.
- Establish performance metrics to evaluate forecast accuracy and operational effectiveness.
People Leadership
- Lead and develop a team of aviation meteorologists and weather specialists.
- Define competency standards, training requirements, and succession plans.
- Ensure continuous professional development aligned with ICAO, WMO, DGCA, and industry best practices.
DGCA Regulatory Accountability
The incumbent shall ensure that all meteorological information used to support operational control, dispatch release, flight planning, and safety-critical decision-making is obtained, interpreted, and disseminated in accordance with applicable DGCA regulations, ICAO standards, and approved company procedures. The position shall act as the accountable meteorological authority within the airline's OCC framework and provide expert guidance during safety-critical operational situations.
