GEN 3.5 Meteorological services

3.5.1 Responsible Service

3.5.1.1 Meteorological Services for Civil Aviation are provided at the international airports within the Emirates FIR by the Civil Aviation Department of the individual Emirate.
3.5.1.2 Their addresses can be found in the applicable GEN 1 section.
3.5.1.3 Meteorological services provided are based upon ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as described in the following documents:

  1. ICAO Annex 3, Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation;

  2. ICAO Doc 8896, Manual of Aeronautical Meteorological Practice;

  3. ICAO Doc 7030, Regional Supplementary Procedures.

Any differences to Standards and Recommended Practices are published in GEN 1.7.

3.5.1.4 A 24 hour service is provided.

3.5.2 Area of responsibility

3.5.2.1 Meteorological Watch Office Services for the Emirates FIR in accordance with Annex 3, para. 3.4, are provided by the National Centre of Meteorology & Seismology.
3.5.2.2 Meteorological Services with respect to Annex 3 chapters 4, and 6 to 10 are provided at the international airports by the Civil Aviation Department of the individual Emirate.

3.5.3 Meteorological observations and reports

3.5.3.1 Meteorological observations and reports are listed in tabular format specified in section GEN 3.5.10.
3.5.3.2 Meteorological data is obtained from continuously monitored remote sensing equipment integrated with manually observed data and displayed in airport meteorological offices, relevant Air Traffic Control and Information offices.
3.5.3.3 Low level temperature inversion is frequently present at night. Take - off information on low level inversion provided when requested with flight meteorological documentation.
A continuously updated 10 - hour surface and 1000 FT forecast for winds and temperature is produced by OMAA meteorological office which can show any occurring surface inversions. Document is available with all flight folders.
3.5.3.4 Wind shear warnings are issued:

  1. When wind shear is reported by aircraft.

  2. When the meteorological situation indicates a strong probability of wind shear.

3.5.3.5 IRVR reporting procedures
3.5.3.5.1 IRVR reporting is initiated when:

  1. The regular meteorological report shows visibility to be 1500 metres or less.

  2. The IRVR value is observed to be 1500 metres or less.

Note: In METARs, only touchdown values are given.

3.5.3.5.2 IRVR values will be passed to all aircraft at the beginning of each approach for landing and thereafter, any significant change in the RVR is to be passed to incoming aircraft until they have landed. A significant change is defined as a change in value of one increment or more. The current RVR value will also be passed to aircraft before take - off.
3.5.3.5.3 When reporting all three positions they will be individually identified, e.g.:
"RVR ALPHA 650 - BRAVO 500 CHARLIE 550"
3.5.3.5.4 If only two values are reported, the missing one will also be identified, e.g.:
"RVR ALPHA 650 - BRAVO MISSING CHARLIE 550".

3.5.4 Type of services

3.5.4.1 A 24 hour briefing and consultation for flight crew personnel using the world area forecast system flight documentation.
3.5.4.2 Preparation, dissemination and supply of SIGMET and other information relating to the Emirates FIR and adjacent FIR's.
3.5.4.3 Supply of en - route forecasts and actual weather conditions, on request, to aircraft overflying the Emirates FIR.

3.5.5 Notification required from operators

3.5.5.1 Pursuant to ICAO Annex 3 chapter 2, para. 2.3.1, an operator requiring meteorological service or changes in existing meteorological service shall notify, sufficiently in advance, the meteorological authority or the meteorological office(s) concerned.

3.5.6 Aircraft reports

3.5.6.1 Aircraft flying within the Emirates FIR are exempted from the requirements to make routine aircraft observations.
3.5.6.2 Special aircraft observations are required in accordance with Annex 3, para. 5.5.
3.5.6.3 Aircraft observations of conditions experienced during climb out and approach shall be made in accordance with Annex 3, para. 5.5.
3.5.6.4 Other aircraft observations shall be made on specific request.

3.5.7 VOLMET service

3.5.7.1 VOLMET service is not provided.

3.5.8 SIGMET service

3.5.8.1 SIGMET messages and Aerodrome warnings are prepared in accordance with ICAO Annex 3. SIGMET information is issued by the following agency:

  1. National Centre of Meteorology & Seismology

  2. Hours: H 24

  3. Area served: EMIRATES FIR / EMIRATES UIR

  4. SIGMET information is issued with a four hour validity period.

  5. Specific procedures: Standard

  6. SIGMET information is provided to all ATS units in the EMIRATES FIR

  7. Additional Information: NIL

3.5.9 Other automated meteorological services

NIL

3.5.10 AERODROME METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AND REPORTS

AERODROME METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AND REPORTS
STATION NAME and LOCATION INDICATOROBSERVATIONSTYPES OF REPORTOBSERVATION SYSTEM AND SITEHOURS OF OPERATION (UTC)CLIMATOLOGICAL INFORMATION
H1/2
H		SPECI
123456
ABU DHABI / INTERNATIONAL
(OMAA)		XXXMETAR SPECI TREND

Cup anemometer 300 M from THR RWY 31R.

Cup anemometer 300 M from THR RWY 31L.

Cup anemometer 300 M from THR RWY 13L.

Cup anemometer 350 M from THR RWY 13R.

Transmissometers installed as follows:

385 M, 1520 M, 2620 M, and 3760 M from THR RWY 31L & 31R.

Temperature, Dew point and QNH continuously monitored at Met enclosure placed 350 M SW of RWY centreline, 1200 M from THR RWY 13R.

Cloud base measured at 400 M from THR RWY 13R and 350 M from THR of all other RWY.

H24Full information available
ABU DHABI / AL BATEEN EXECUTIVE AIRPORT
(OMAD)		XXXMETAR SPECI TREND

Cup anemometer 200 M from midfield.

Visibility estimated

Dew point and QNH continuously monitored at Met enclosure

(Met enclosure sited 200 M from midfield)

H24Limited
AL AIN / INTERNATIONAL
(OMAL)		X XMETAR SPECI

Cup anemometer 340 M from THR RWY 01.

Cup anemometer 210 M from THR RWY 19.

Standby Cup anemometer 750 M from THR RWY 01.

Visibility estimated, with RVR measured.

Transmissometers installed as follows:

165 M, 1528 M, 2662 M and 3839 M from THR RWY 01 with sensors at 2.5 M above RWY level.

Temperature, Dew point and QNH monitored in Met enclosure 460 M E of RWY CL, 770 M from THR RWY 01.

Cloud base measured 930 M S of THR RWY 01 and 800 M N of THR RWY 19.

H24Limited
DUBAI / INTERNATIONAL
(OMDB)		XXXMETAR SPECI TRENDAnemometers:

Refer OMDB AD 2.15

H24Full information available
RVR Transmissometers and Receivers:

RVR transmissometers and receivers at following positions related to RWY 12L/30R:

  1. RVR 1:

    (ID 3475) 106.14 M (N) of RWY CL and 352.34 M from landing DTHR RWY 30R - (ID 3476) 105.93 M (N) of RWY CL and 383.51 M from landing DTHR RWY 30R.

  2. RVR 2:

    (ID 3512) 105.76 M (N) of RWY CL and 1280.55 M from landing DTHR RWY 30R - (ID 3513) 105.91 M (N) of RWY CL and 1249.24 M from landing DTHR RWY 30R.

  3. RVR 3:

    (ID 3473) 105.60 M (S) of RWY CL and 191.25 M from landing DTHR RWY 12L - (ID 3474) 105.45 M (S) of RWY CL and 222.58 M from landing DTHR RWY 12L.

  4. RVR 4:

    (ID 3510) 105.33 M (S) of RWY CL and 1255.88 M from landing DTHR RWY 12L - (ID 3511) 105.21 M (S) of RWY CL and 1287.22 M from landing DTHR RWY 12L.

RVR transmissometers and receivers at following positions related to RWY 12R/30L:

  1. RVR 1:

    (ID 3477) 90.09 M (N) of RWY CL and 362.55 M from landing DTHR RWY 30L - (ID 3509) 89.95 M (N) of RWY CL and 393.96 M from landing DTHR RWY 30L.

  2. RVR 2:

    (ID 6039) 110.85 M (S) of RWY CL and 1503.29 M from landing DTHR RWY 30L - (ID 18974) 111.15 M (S) of RWY CL and 1534.44 M from landing DTHR RWY 30L.

  3. RVR 3:

    (ID 18975) 94.03 M (N) of RWY CL and 393.82 M from landing DTHR RWY 12R - (ID 6043) 93.29 M (N) of RWY CL and 363.12 M from landing DTHR RWY 12R.

  4. RVR 4:

    (ID 6103) 113.51 M (S) of RWY CL and 1560.71 M from landing DTHR RWY 12R - (ID 6104) 110.09 M (S) of RWY CL and 1529.49 M from landing DTHR RWY 12R.

Cloud Base Equipment

Ceilometers at following positions:

  • RWY 12L (ID 4517): 109.10 M (N) of RWY CL and 316.90 M from DTHR.
  • RWY 30R (ID 4514): 117.46 M (N) of RWY CL and 357.74 M from DTHR.
  • RWY 12R (ID 4516): 121.64 M (N) of RWY CL and 313.25 M from DTHR.
  • RWY 30L (ID 4515): 127.90 M (N) of RWY CL and 349.67 M from DTHR.

Visibility estimated with RVR measured.

Temperature, Dew point and QNH continuously monitored.

DUBAI / AL MAKTOUM INTERNATIONAL
(OMDW)		XXXMETAR SPECI TRENDAnemometers:

Refer OMDW AD 2.15

H24Limited information available
RVR Transmissometers and Receivers:

RVR transmissometers and receivers at following positions related to RWY 12/30:

  1. RVR 1:

    (ID 6218) 119.91 M (N) of RWY CL and 383.67 M from landing THR RWY 12 - (ID 6219) 120.06 M (N) of RWY CL and 414.78 M from landing THR RWY 12.

  2. RVR 2:

    (ID 7764) 119.93 M (N) of RWY CL and 1521.84 M from landing THR RWY 12 - (ID 7765) 120.12 M (N) of RWY CL and 1552.97 M from landing THR RWY 12.

  3. RVR 3:

    (ID 7766) 119.90 M (N) of RWY CL and 1238.38 M from landing THR RWY 30 - (ID 7767) 120.09 M (N) of RWY CL and 1207.02 M from landing THR RWY 30.

  4. RVR 4:

    (ID 6216) 120.06 M (N) of RWY CL and 384.55 M from landing THR RWY 30 - (ID 6217) 119.91 M (N) of RWY CL and 415.75 M from landing THR RWY 30.

RVR transmissometers and receivers at following positions related to RWY 13/31:

  1. RVR 1:

    (ID 8592) 54.94 M (N) of RWY CL and 299.54 M from DTHR RWY 13 - (ID 8593) 54.94 M (N) of RWY CL and 330.83 M from landing DTHR RWY 13.

  2. RVR 2:

    (ID 8669) 59.94 M (N) of RWY CL and 350.47 M from landing DTHR RWY 31 - (ID 8668) 59.90 M (N) of RWY CL and 381.79 M from landing DTHR RWY 31.

Cloud Base Equipment

Ceilometers at following positions:

  1. RWY 12 (ID 2841): 995.04 M before THR.
  2. RWY 30 (ID 2840): 954.99 M before THR
  3. RWY 13 (ID 8878): 70.01 M (N) of RWY CL and 300.01 M from DTHR.
  4. RWY 31 (ID 8880): 75.05 M (N) of RWY CL and 351.16 M from DTHR.

Visibility estimated with RVR measured

Temperature, Dew Point and QNH continuously monitored.

FUJAIRAH / INTERNATIONAL
(OMFJ)		X XMETAR SPECI

Cup anemometer 200 M from THR RWY 29.

Visibility estimated.

Cloud base estimated.

H24Limited
RAS AL KHAIMAH / INTERNATIONAL
(OMRK)		X XMETAR SPECI

Cup anemometer 150 M from RWY.

Visibility and cloud base estimated.

H24Limited
SHARJAH / INTERNATIONAL
(OMSJ)		XXXMETAR SPECI

Ultrasonic anemometers located on the north side of the RWY adjacent of both THR, 10 M AGL.

Transmissometers installed as follows:

300 M, 1730 M, 3160 M from THR RWY 30 with sensors at 2.5 M above RWY level.

Cloud base measured near RWY 30 and RWY 12 ILS localiser antenna.

Visibility estimated with RVR measured.

Temperature, Dew point and QNH continuously monitored.

H24Full information available