First in 71 Years, Thunderstorm Monitoring for Aviation Safety Course at RMC

Nagpur: In a significant first, the Aerodrome Meteorological Office (AMO) of the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Nagpur Airport will host a specialized training course on thunderstorm monitoring for the aviation sector. The event, scheduled from April 21 to 22, is being organized in collaboration with the India Meteorological Society chapters of Nagpur, Bhopal, and Raipur.

Personnel from the Indian Air Force, prominent airlines, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and various other aviation-related sectors will participate in the familiarization training course. With over 400 participants expected, the programme will include professionals from 106 airports—both large and small—across the country.

This online training aims to equip aviation professionals with advanced skills and knowledge to monitor, forecast, and mitigate the risks associated with thunderstorms—a critical weather phenomenon that impacts flight safety, air traffic management, and airport operations.

The course will be led by AMO director Rizwan Ahmed and RMC head R. Balasubramanian, both of whom bring extensive expertise in meteorological sciences and aviation weather safety.

Experts will provide in-depth sessions on thunderstorm climatology, modeling, forecasting, nowcasting, and advanced warning systems, including the use of satellite and radar technologies.

"For the first time since the establishment of the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Nagpur nearly 71 years ago in 1954, such a large-scale, countrywide training programme is being organized here," said Rizwan Ahmed in a statement to TOI.

Participants will benefit from interactive practical sessions, case studies, and hands-on applications of meteorological techniques specifically designed for aviation operations. The event will be inaugurated by Gajender Kumar, head of the Central Aviation Meteorology Division (CAMD).

Upon successful completion, participants will receive certificates acknowledging their proficiency in thunderstorm monitoring and aviation safety protocols.

Rizwan Ahmed said the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines recommend regular refresher courses for aviation professionals, including forecasters, to keep pace with evolving technologies, regulations, and best practices.