GEN 3.5 Meteorological services
1 Responsible service
The designated meteorological authority is Civil Aviation Agency.
Post: Georgian Civil Aviation Agency Tel: +995 32 294 80 27 Fax: +995 32 294 80 27 AFS: UGGUYMYX Email: met@gcaa.ge |
The meteorological services for civil aviation are provided by SAKAERONAVIGATSIA Ltd.
Post: SAKAERONAVIGATSIA Ltd Tel: +995 32 274 43 10 Tel: +995 577 11 44 43 Fax: +995 32 274 43 10 AFS: UGTBYMYX Email: metoffice.tbilisi@airnav.ge |
- Annex 3 — Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation.
- Doc 7030 — Regional Supplementary Procedures, EUR Region, Part 3 – Meteorology.
2 Area of responsibility
Area meteorological observation is provided for TBILISI FIR.
3 Meteorological observations and reports
| Name of station/ Location indicator | Type & frequency of observation / automatic observing equipment | Types of MET reports & Supplementary Information included | Observation System & Site(s) | Hours of operation | Climatological information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| BATUMI UGSB | Half hourly routine Special obs/ Vaisala | METAR, SPECIAL, TREND, TAF | *1 | H24 | AVBL** |
| KUTAISI/ Kopitnari UGKO | Half hourly routine Special obs/ Telvent | METAR, SPECIAL, TREND, TAF | *1 | H24 | AVBL** |
| TBILISI/ Tbilisi UGTB | Half hourly routine Special obs/ Vaisala | METAR, SPECIAL, TREND, TAF, GAMET, SIGMET, AIRMET | *1 | H24 | AVBL** |
| MESTIA UGMS | Half hourly routine Special obs/ Telvent | METAR | *1 | From HR05:00 - until HR13:00 | NIL |
| AMBROLAURI UGAM | Half hourly routine Special obs/ Telvent | METAR | *1 | From HR05:00 - until HR13:00 | NIL |
** Climatological Summary of Georgian Airports is available on the official website of Sakaeronavigatsia Ltd www.airnav.ge on MET-Office page, under Climatological Characteristics tab.
* 1 The main meteorological elements:
- Pressure – at the RWY 13;
- Wind – at the RWY 13, at the middle, and at the RWY 31;
- Visibility and RVR – at the RWY 13 and at the middle of the RWY;
- Ceiling – at the RWY 13 near the landing markers;
- Temperature/Dew Point – at the beginning of the RWY13;
- Lightning detector – near the RWY13.
Meteorological observations at the aerodrome and on the RWY are transmitted via AFTN during 24 hours.
At KUTAISI/Kopitnari aerodrome:- Pressure – at the meteo-garden at the middle of the RWY;
- Wind – at the RWY 07, at the middle, and at the RWY 25;
- Visibility and RVR – at the RWY 07, at the middle, and at the RWY 25;
- Ceiling - at the RWY 07 and at the RWY 25;
- Temperature/Dew Point - at the meteo-garden at the middle of the RWY;
- Lightning detector – at the meteo-garden at the middle of the RWY.
Meteorological observations at the aerodrome and on the RWY are transmitted via AFTN during 24 hours.
At TBILISI/Tbilisi aerodrome:- Pressure – at the meteo-garden near the RWY 31L;
- Wind – at the RWY 31L, at the middle and at the RWY 13R;
- Visibility and RVR – at the RWY 31L, at the middle, and at the RWY 13R (measured near the RWY not far from 90 M);
- Ceiling - at the RWY 31L and at the RWY 13R near the landing markers;
- Temperature/Dew Point - at the at the meteo-garden near the RWY 31L;
- Lightning detector – at the meteo-garden near the RWY 31L.
Meteorological observations at the aerodrome and on the RWY are transmitted via AFTN during 24 hours.
- Pressure – at the RWY 02;
- Wind – at the RWY 02;
- Visibility – only visual observation;
- Ceiling – only visual observation;
- Temperature/Dew Point - at the RWY 02.
Meteorological observation at the aerodrome and on the RWY are transmitted via AFTN during 24 hours. Full METAR is available in daytime (from HR05:00 - until HR13:00), at night will be transmitted AUTOMETAR without the VISIBILITY, CLOUDS and WEATHER PHENOMENA groups.
- Pressure – at the middle of the RWY;
- Wind – at the middle of the RWY;
- Wind cone – at the RWY 11 and at the RWY 29;
- Visibility – only visual observation;
- Ceiling – only visual observation;
- Temperature/Dew Point - at the middle of the RWY.
Meteorological observation at the aerodrome and on the RWY are transmitted via AFTN during 24 hours. Full METAR is available in daytime (from HR05:00 - until HR13:00), at night will be transmitted AUTOMETAR without the VISIBILITY, CLOUDS and WEATHER PHENOMENA groups.
4 Types of services
Meteorological Service of SAKAERONAVIGATSIA Ltd provides the following types of service:
- Briefing;
- Consultations for aircraft crews;
- Flight meteorological documentation for different kinds of flights (completed according to the user’s request);
- Landing/take-off meteorological service.
Details of meteorological briefing at the aerodromes are given in the individual aerodrome subsection AD 2.
SAKAERONAVIGATSIA Ltd provides meteorological service at the TBILISI/Tbilisi, KUTAISI/Kopitnari, BATUMI, MESTIA and AMBROLAURI aerodromes.
| Meteorological Office | Telephone | Telefax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| TBILISI | (+995 577) 34 55 54 | (+995 32) 274 43 10 | sinoptik.tbilisi@airnav.ge |
| KUTAISI | (+995 577) 11 44 85 | (+995 32) 274 43 37 | meteo.kopitnari@airnav.ge |
| BATUMI | (+995 577) 11 44 92 | NIL | meteo.batumi@airnav.ge |
| MESTIA | (+995 577) 34 55 07 | NIL | meteo.mestia@airnav.ge |
| AMBROLAURI | (+995 591) 10 04 80 | NIL | meteo.ambrolauri@airnav.ge |
Meteorological Office at TBILISI/Tbilisi aerodrome provides consultations for crews in English. Flight meteorological documentation is provided for international and domestic flights. The documentation comprises Significant Weather Chart, Upper Wind and Upper Air Temperature Chart, latest available aerodrome forecasts for the destination and for the alternate aerodromes, latest current weather for the destination and for the alternate aerodromes, and such additional meteorological information as SIGMET and AIRMET. All WAFS products, VAACs and TCACs are available from SADIS receiving system and available from secured meteorological web-site https://www.aviationweather.gov/.
Meteorological Office at KUTAISI/Kopitnari aerodrome provides consultations for crews in Russian. Flight meteorological documentation is provided for international and domestic flights. The documentation comprises Significant Weather Chart, Upper Wind and Upper Air Temperature Chart, latest available aerodrome forecasts for the destination and for the alternate aerodromes, latest current weather for the destination and for the alternate aerodromes, and such additional meteorological information as SIGMET and AIRMET. All WAFS products, VAACs and TCACs are available from SADIS receiving system and available from secured meteorological web-site https://www.aviationweather.gov/.
Meteorological Office at BATUMI aerodrome provides consultations for crews in English. Flight meteorological documentation is provided for international and domestic flights. The documentation comprises Significant Weather Chart, Upper Wind and Upper Air Temperature Chart, latest available aerodrome forecasts for the destination and for the alternate aerodromes, latest current weather for the destination and for the alternate aerodromes, and such additional meteorological information as SIGMET and AIRMET. All WAFS products, VAACs and TCACs are available from SADIS receiving system and available from secured meteorological web-site https://www.aviationweather.gov/.
5 Notification required from operators
Notifications from operators in respect of briefing consultation, flight documentation and other meteorological information needed by them (ref. ICAO Annex 3, 2.3) is normally required for intercontinental flights of more than 3500 KM. Such notifications should be received at least 6 hours before the estimated time of departure.
6 Aircraft reports
Observations and aircraft reports are conducted in accordance with ICAO Appendix I Doc 4444 RAC /501/12.
7 VOLMET service
8 SIGMET and AIRMET service
| Name of MWO/ location indicators | Hours | FIR or CTA served | Validity | Specific SIGMET procedures | AIRMET procedures | ATS unit served | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| TBILISI UGTB | H24 | TBILISI FIR | SIGMET/4 HR AIRMET/4 HR | SIGMET VA/TC: Validity 6 HR | Issued during daytime only | TBILISI TWR, APP, ACC, BATUMI TWR, APP KUTAISI TWR, APP | NIL |
8.1 Area meteorological watch service
8.1.1 SIGMET
Information is issued in the form of SIGMET messages about occurrence or possible occurrence of one of several of the following significant meteorological phenomena:
- thunderstorm:
- obscured;
- embedded;
- frequent;
- line squall;
- obscured with heavy hail;
- embedded with heavy hail;
- frequent with heavy hail;
- line squall with heavy hail.
- turbulence:
- severe turbulence.
- icing:
- severe icing;
- severe icing due to freezing rain.
SIGMETs are issued in English in abbreviated plain language and are numbered consecutively for each day commencing at 0001. Their period of validity is generally limited to less than 4 hours from the time of issuance.
8.1.2 AIRMET
AIRMET is prepared relating to the TBILISI FIR (one or more from 5 different areas: A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5. See chart AIRMET/GAMET AREAS which is available on the Sakaeronavigatsia Ltd official website www.airnav.ge on MET-OFFICE page) from surface up to FL150, concerning the occurrence and/or expected occurrence of specified weather phenomena as follows:
- strong surface wind and gusts above 30 KT;
- surface visibility to less than 5000 M on the widespread areas;
- thunderstorms: ISOL TS, OCNL TS, ISOL TSGR, OCNL TSGR;
- cloud:
- widespread areas of broken or overcast cloud with height of base less than 1000 FT;
- ISOL, OCNL or FRQ cumulonimbus (CB) or towering cumulus (TCU);
- moderate turbulence - MOD TURB;
- moderate icing - MOD ICE;
- moderate mountain wave - MOD MTW.
AIRMETs are issued in English in abbreviated plain language and are numbered consecutively for each day commencing at 0001. Their period of validity is generally limited to less than 4 hours from the time of issuance.
8.1.3 GAMET
GAMET area forecasts contain two sections: Section I related to information on en-route weather phenomena hazardous to low-level flights (below FL150), prepared in support of the issuance of AIRMET information, and Section II related to additional information required by low-level flights. The content and order of elements in a GAMET area forecast are in accordance with the template shown in Table A5-3 of ICAO Annex 3. Elements which are already covered by a SIGMET message are omitted from GAMET area forecast.
Section I
The numbers of SIGMET messages applicable to the Tbilisi FIR, for which a GAMET forecast is valid.
The numbers of AIRMET messages applicable to the Tbilisi FIR, for which a GAMET forecast is valid.
Section II
All heights in forecasts are expressed as altitudes above mean sea level (AMSL) or in flight levels (FL).
The validity period of GAMET forecasts is 6 hours (from 06:00 till 12:00; from 12:00 till 18:00 UTC), these forecasts are prepared and published twice per day for the following areas: A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 (according to chart AIRMET/GAMET AREAS which is available on the Sakaeronavigatsia Ltd official web-site www.airnav.ge on MET-OFFICE page).
Amendments to GAMET
When a weather phenomenon hazardous to low-level flights has been included in the GAMET area forecast and the phenomenon forecast does not occur, or is no longer forecast, a GAMET AMD is issued, amending only the weather element concerned.
8.2 Aerodrome Warning service
Aerodrome warning is provided by all MET offices at the aerodromes. Warnings for the protection of parked and fastened aircraft or other equipment at the aerodrome will be issued by all MET offices, if one or several of the following phenomena are expected to occur at the local aerodrome:
- strong surface wind and gusts (more than 30 KT);
- thunderstorms;
- squall;
- freezing precipitation;
- snow during more than 2 hours;
- air temperature falls –30°C and below and increases up to +40°C and over (those criteria may vary from aerodrome to aerodrome).
9 Other automated meteorological services
