SMA Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Recertification for Aeronautical Meteorological Services

The Seychelles Meteorological Authority (SMA) achieved recertification for aeronautical meteorological services in February 2025. This resulted from continuous efforts, development and commitment to maintain high quality standards and excellence in the operation of a Quality Management System (QMS) compliant with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 for the provision of aeronautical meteorological services to the aviation industry at the Seychelles international airport; thereby, fulfilling its international obligations as defined in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 3 and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Technical Regulations.

The adoption of QMS was a strategic decision by SMA to help improve its overall performance and provide a sound basis for sustainable development. The SMA’s Strategic Plan 2019-2023 was instrumental in transforming the SMA from a small ministerial section into an independent ISO-certified organization capable of recovering costs for its aeronautical meteorological services. In particular, the implementation of QMS improved SMA’s ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, facilitated opportunities to enhance customer satisfaction, addressed risks and opportunities associated with the context and objectives of the services, and enhanced the ability to demonstrate conformity to specified quality management system requirements.

While these achievements are significant, keeping the ISO 9001:2015 for the provision of aeronautical meteorological services requires commitment, focus-oriented and hard work. Since its previous certification in 2022, the SMA has been maintaining high quality standards and improving processes and services to address the evolving requirements of its users/costumers, which are driven by climate change and extreme hydrometeorological events, rapid changes in social conditions, and dramatic advances in science and technology. To address these requirements, the SMA updated its Strategic Plan for the period 2025-2029 (and associated Operational Plan) that establishes ambitious goals aimed at enhancing Seychelles’ meteorological capabilities, including advocating for improved regulations, increased delegated authority, and the pursuit of making excellence a habit through the expansion of the QMS. The Plan aligns SMA’s activities with its overarching vision (“To be the recognized national meteorological authority delivering dynamic and innovative services to support sustainable development”), ensuring operational efficiency and effectiveness.

To respond to the new Strategic Plan, a new SMA organization structure has been developed, with associated staff positions described in terms of required competencies. A Training Program has been prepared to ensure that the successful induction, learning and development for all staff, at the outset of their employment as well as throughout their career in SMA, is well managed, accessible and updated to reflect changing needs of the organization and professions within it. Quality objectives, as well as the identification of risks and opportunities, have also been part of the QMS process at SMA, that ultimately led to the ISO 9001:2015 recertification in February 2025. These activities have been partly supported by WMO through a technical assistance under the CREWS Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO).