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The provision of The provision of meteorological products and meteorological products and

services in support of low services in support of low level flight’slevel flight’s operation in operation in

UkraineUkraine

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IntroductionIntroduction

In Ukraine low level flights below FL100 In Ukraine low level flights below FL100 are conducted in the airspace of the G are conducted in the airspace of the G ((GNDGND-5 000 -5 000 ftft A AMSLMSL)) classe classe..

The G class is the uncontrolled airspace, The G class is the uncontrolled airspace, UkSATSE is provided only with flight UkSATSE is provided only with flight information service by 7 FICs.information service by 7 FICs.

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VFR operations as well as IFR operations VFR operations as well as IFR operations are conducted in both classesare conducted in both classes

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Nowadays more than 300 aircrafts and 38 Nowadays more than 300 aircrafts and 38 airlines are registered in Ukraine, which airlines are registered in Ukraine, which conduct aerial works. These airlines conduct aerial works. These airlines operateoperate mainly in airspace of the class G.mainly in airspace of the class G.

Some airlines and private pilots conduct Some airlines and private pilots conduct general aviation operations. An average general aviation operations. An average density of the operating traffic is more than density of the operating traffic is more than 200 flights per month, but it has a tendency 200 flights per month, but it has a tendency to the increase during the last years. to the increase during the last years.

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The flight operations, air traffic service and The flight operations, air traffic service and meteorological service are provided in meteorological service are provided in accordance with the appropriate national accordance with the appropriate national rules created on basis of the ICAO SARPS.rules created on basis of the ICAO SARPS.

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MET Service provisionsMET Service provisions

The GAMET/AIRMET conception in support of The GAMET/AIRMET conception in support of the LLF operations was implemented in Ukraine the LLF operations was implemented in Ukraine in September, 2004 instead of obsolete procedures in September, 2004 instead of obsolete procedures of the serving LLF operations of former USSR.of the serving LLF operations of former USSR.

The MWO of UkSATSE is responsible for issuing The MWO of UkSATSE is responsible for issuing and distributing of GAMET forecasts, AIRMET and distributing of GAMET forecasts, AIRMET and SIGMET information. There are five MWOs and SIGMET information. There are five MWOs serving flight operations within the airspace of serving flight operations within the airspace of five FIRs, including the airspace below FL100.five FIRs, including the airspace below FL100.

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The MWO delivers GAMET, AIRMET and The MWO delivers GAMET, AIRMET and SIGMET to the adjacent FIC via the AFTN SIGMET to the adjacent FIC via the AFTN network. The prescribed aerodrome network. The prescribed aerodrome meteorological offices of the NHMS deliver meteorological offices of the NHMS deliver routine messages METAR/SPECI and TAF routine messages METAR/SPECI and TAF forecasts of selected aerodromes to the appropriate forecasts of selected aerodromes to the appropriate FICs.FICs.

The prescribed aerodrome meteorological offices The prescribed aerodrome meteorological offices are also responsible for supplying to FICs of some are also responsible for supplying to FICs of some notifications concerning significant weather notifications concerning significant weather phenomena and conditions within the area of phenomena and conditions within the area of responsibility of the appropriate FIC, deriving responsibility of the appropriate FIC, deriving from the synoptic stations of the NHMS.from the synoptic stations of the NHMS.

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The list of criteria for issuing of such The list of criteria for issuing of such notifications includes convective notifications includes convective phenomena, the reduction of the visibility phenomena, the reduction of the visibility and height cloud base as well as freezing and height cloud base as well as freezing precipitation. This is provided, mainly, by precipitation. This is provided, mainly, by voice communication means.voice communication means.

The NHMS is also responsible through its The NHMS is also responsible through its aerodrome meteorological offices, for the aerodrome meteorological offices, for the preparation of flight documentation and preparation of flight documentation and briefing/consultation of the flight crew briefing/consultation of the flight crew members at the adjacent aerodromes.members at the adjacent aerodromes.

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GAMET and AIRMET are a mandatory GAMET and AIRMET are a mandatory part of the flight documentation for LLF. part of the flight documentation for LLF. METAR/SPECI and TAF are included to METAR/SPECI and TAF are included to the flight documentation folder, if available.the flight documentation folder, if available.

Nowadays the SIGWX charts for LLF are Nowadays the SIGWX charts for LLF are not applied in Ukraine.not applied in Ukraine.

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Aerodrome Met Offices have the possibility Aerodrome Met Offices have the possibility of preparing of an individual en-route of preparing of an individual en-route forecast in abbreviated plain Russian or forecast in abbreviated plain Russian or English language (form TA) for the separate English language (form TA) for the separate flight on request of operators or flight crew flight on request of operators or flight crew members. This forecast is provided to the members. This forecast is provided to the pilot instead of other meteorological pilot instead of other meteorological products (GAMET, AIRMET etc.).products (GAMET, AIRMET etc.).

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GAMET area forecasts and AIRMET GAMET area forecasts and AIRMET information are issued by UkSATSE information are issued by UkSATSE MWOs for adjacent FIRs in compliance MWOs for adjacent FIRs in compliance with the ICAO Annex 3 templates.with the ICAO Annex 3 templates.

GAMET forecasts are issued GAMET forecasts are issued four timesfour times a a day (forecast validity day (forecast validity 00.00-00.06; 00.00-00.06; 06.00-06.00-12.00; 12.00-18.00 and 18.00-24.00 UTC)12.00; 12.00-18.00 and 18.00-24.00 UTC) with a lead time (time of issuance) one hour with a lead time (time of issuance) one hour before the forecast takes effect.before the forecast takes effect.

The The reason for the issuing of GAMET, reason for the issuing of GAMET, covering the night time of the days, is a covering the night time of the days, is a support of LLF operations in a D class.support of LLF operations in a D class.

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In addition to ICAO provisions In addition to ICAO provisions the following data are included to the following data are included to

the SEC I:the SEC I:

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The direction of the wind and the gusts’ of The direction of the wind and the gusts’ of the wind speed are included to the SFC the wind speed are included to the SFC WIND group if relevant, e.g. WIND group if relevant, e.g. SFC WINDSFC WIND: : 12/15 12/15 330/12330/12GG1717MPSMPS

In cases of reduction of visibility to less In cases of reduction of visibility to less than 5000 m the intensity of precipitation, than 5000 m the intensity of precipitation, descriptors SH and FZ are included to the descriptors SH and FZ are included to the SFC VIS group according to the MET SFC VIS group according to the MET REPORT format if relevant, e.g., REPORT format if relevant, e.g., SFС VIS: SFС VIS: 08/12 3000М 08/12 3000М FBLFBL FZRA FZRA N ОF N49N ОF N49

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Specifying of the area of the predicted Specifying of the area of the predicted impact, likely occurrence of such elements impact, likely occurrence of such elements of the forecast as a surface wind, visibility, of the forecast as a surface wind, visibility, convectiveconvective clouds clouds, significant weather , significant weather phenomena, mountain waves, icing and phenomena, mountain waves, icing and turbulence, as to whole area of FIR, are turbulence, as to whole area of FIR, are provided by using:provided by using:

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an abbreviation ‘ISOL’– spatial covering an abbreviation ‘ISOL’– spatial covering <50 % of the area of the predicted effect of <50 % of the area of the predicted effect of those elementsthose elements

‘ ‘OCNL’ – 50 - 75 % spatial covering, that OCNL’ – 50 - 75 % spatial covering, that are inserted before the description of the are inserted before the description of the relevant element, e.g., relevant element, e.g., TURB: 12TURB: 12//15 15 OCNL MOD BLW 5OCNL MOD BLW 500М AGL00М AGL; ; the the abbreviation ‘FRQ’ – spatial covering > 75 abbreviation ‘FRQ’ – spatial covering > 75 % is not used% is not used

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When When thethe local reduction of the cloud base local reduction of the cloud base height is expectheight is expecteded, for example, in radiation , for example, in radiation fogs or in showers within FIR boundaries, it fogs or in showers within FIR boundaries, it is reported in the is reported in the SIG CLDSIG CLD group referring group referring to the phenomenon, which had generated to the phenomenon, which had generated that reduction. For example,that reduction. For example, SIG CLD: SIG CLD:

BKN 090/150M AGL IN SHRA, or SIG BKN 090/150M AGL IN SHRA, or SIG CLD: OVC 060/150M AGL IN FG, or CLD: OVC 060/150M AGL IN FG, or SIG CLD: OVC 060/150M AGL IN FG SIG CLD: OVC 060/150M AGL IN FG VAL (VALLEYS). VAL (VALLEYS).

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When the When the impactimpact of the forecasting element of the forecasting element concerns the separate part of the FIR, one concerns the separate part of the FIR, one of the abbreviations from the of the abbreviations from the abovementioned list including the abovementioned list including the abbreviation ‘FRQ’ is input into GAMET abbreviation ‘FRQ’ is input into GAMET before the description of the one, and after before the description of the one, and after that the expected geographical location of that the expected geographical location of such an area within the boundaries of FIR is such an area within the boundaries of FIR is inserted as well, e.g., inserted as well, e.g., SIG CLD: SIG CLD:

BKN 150/600 M AGL ISOL CB 600/ABV BKN 150/600 M AGL ISOL CB 600/ABV

3050M AGL S OF N46 3050M AGL S OF N46

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In addition to ICAO In addition to ICAO provisions the following provisions the following data are included to the data are included to the

SEC II:SEC II:

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Besides the description of pressure centers Besides the description of pressure centers and fronts, a few other features of baric and fronts, a few other features of baric field are used for the description, e.g., field are used for the description, e.g.,

PSYS: rear part of cyclonePSYS: rear part of cyclone

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Two new groups of meteorological Two new groups of meteorological elements are added:elements are added:

The forecast of direction and speed of The forecast of direction and speed of surface wind with values less than 15 MPS surface wind with values less than 15 MPS (30KT), e.g., (30KT), e.g.,

SFC WIND: 06/09 180/05MPS 09/12 SFC WIND: 06/09 180/05MPS 09/12 240/08G13MPS240/08G13MPS

The forecast of minimum surface The forecast of minimum surface temperature within the FIR boundaries, e.g., temperature within the FIR boundaries, e.g., MNM SFCT: PS15MNM SFCT: PS15

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Some features of the included into Some features of the included into GAMET and AIRMET significant GAMET and AIRMET significant

weather phenomena weather phenomena

If If one or more valid SIGMET messages contains one or more valid SIGMET messages contains information about en-route weather phenomena information about en-route weather phenomena hazardous to LLF, then the description of those hazardous to LLF, then the description of those significant weather phenomena is included into significant weather phenomena is included into GAMET forecast.GAMET forecast.

If SIGMETs phenomenon(a) has a widespread If SIGMETs phenomenon(a) has a widespread extension of FIR area (spatial covering extension of FIR area (spatial covering >75%>75%), ), then the phenomenon(a) with less intensity is not then the phenomenon(a) with less intensity is not included into GAMET forecast. included into GAMET forecast.

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When SIGMETs phenomenon(a) covers only a When SIGMETs phenomenon(a) covers only a part of FIR area (spatial covering part of FIR area (spatial covering <75% <75% or or <50%<50%), ), the phenomenon(a) with less intensity, which is the phenomenon(a) with less intensity, which is prescribed for entering into GAMET, could be prescribed for entering into GAMET, could be included into forecast if it concerns the other part included into forecast if it concerns the other part of FIR.of FIR.

If there is a If there is a confirmationconfirmation of the first detection of of the first detection of the thunderstorm activity within the limits of FIR, the thunderstorm activity within the limits of FIR, AIRMET information is issued on the AIRMET information is issued on the phenomenon phenomenon ISOL TS or OCNL TSISOL TS or OCNL TS irrespective irrespective of thunderstorms were predicted in GAMET of thunderstorms were predicted in GAMET forecast and/or AIRMET information or not.forecast and/or AIRMET information or not.

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ConclusionConclusion

UkSATSE as a Met Service provider has a UkSATSE as a Met Service provider has a little experience in the field of supporting of little experience in the field of supporting of LLF (less than one year)LLF (less than one year)

However, before the beginning of Met However, before the beginning of Met Service activity we have made, first of all, Service activity we have made, first of all, an essential modification of GAMET an essential modification of GAMET forecast mostly reported aboveforecast mostly reported above

We regard the further improvement of We regard the further improvement of procedures of LLF operations’ servingprocedures of LLF operations’ serving

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Thank you for attention!Thank you for attention!