Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR) for Kenya Airways
Kenya AMDAR is a WMO-led Public Private Partnership between the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) and Kenya Airways (KQ) for the establishment and operation of a meteorological observing program facilitating the automated reporting of meteorological atmospheric information from a fleet of aircraft.
The AMDAR program uses the aircraft’s existing sensors, avionics and telecommunication systems to gather, process, and disseminate data. The data is used directly by KMD to improve the accuracy of weather forecasting services to aviation and public weather applications that meet sector-specific needs.
The project also brings wider benefits to Kenya, the African continent and the global community through the positive impact of the use of data in applications associated with climate monitoring and prediction, environmental protection, agriculture, health, and disaster risk reduction.
AMDAR expansion into the data-sparse regions, specifically Africa, will yield greater incremental benefits for developing and emerging markets, which in many cases are more vulnerable to weather-related phenomena than developed economies.
Objectives
The overall goal of the AMDAR-Kenya Programme is to improve sector specific products and services in various economic (i.e. agriculture, health, DRR, climate change, etc) in particular the aviation sector, and their use at the national, regional, and international levels, through increased availability and use of AMDAR data.
Structure
The project is structured around two expected outcomes:
Outcome 1: Improved Forecasts and services provided by Kenya Meteorological Department
The improvement in KMD forecasting and services will be derived from the utilization of AMDAR within existing and new forecast applications and processes. To achieve this outcome, the AMDAR data must be received, quality controlled, and processed by KMD. It will then be integrated into the KMD existing operational infrastructure and applications.
Outcome 2: Improve flight operations at Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways improved flight operations and resulting reduced environmental impacts of its operational fleet will be achieved through the provision of AMDAR data from the aircraft fleet to KMD, who will use the data to improve forecast and services to KQ and the wider aviation sector. The improved forecast products and services will then be utilized by KQ to improve flight operations and fuel management processes.
- Region:
- Region I: Africa
- Aviation meteorological services
Implemented in
Donors
