Appendix V Technical specifications related to aircraft observations and reports by voice communications

2.1.  Items of an air-report shall be reported in the order in which they are listed in the model AIREP SPECIAL form.

MESSAGE TYPE DESIGNATOR. Report ‘SPECIAL’ for a special air-report.

Section 1 

Item 1 — AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION. Report the aircraft radiotelephony call sign as prescribed in point SERA.14050.

Item 2 — POSITION. Report position in latitude (degrees as 2 numerics or degrees and minutes as 4 numerics, followed by ‘North’ or ‘South’) and longitude (degrees as 3 numerics or degrees and minutes as 5 numerics followed by ‘East’ or ‘West’), or as a significant point identified by a coded designator (2 to 5 characters), or as a significant point followed by magnetic bearing (3 numerics) and distance in nautical miles from the point. Precede significant point with ‘ABEAM’, if applicable.

Item 3 — TIME. Report time in hours and minutes UTC (4 numerics) unless reporting time in minutes past the hour (2 numerics) is prescribed on the basis of regional air navigation agreements. The time reported must be the actual time of the aircraft at the position and not the time of origination or transmission of the report. Time shall always be reported in hours and minutes UTC when issuing a special air-report.

Item 4 — FLIGHT LEVEL OR ALTITUDE. Report flight level by 3 numerics when on standard pressure altimeter setting. Report altitude in metres followed by ‘METRES’ or in feet followed by ‘FEET’ when on QNH. Report ‘CLIMBING’ (followed by the level) when climbing or ‘DESCENDING’ (followed by the level) when descending to a new level after passing the significant point.

Item 5 — NEXT POSITION AND ESTIMATED TIME OVER. Report the next reporting point and the estimated time over such reporting point, or report the estimated position that will be reached one hour later, according to the position reporting procedures in force. Use the data conventions specified in Item 2 for position. Report the estimated time over this position. Report time in hours and minutes UTC (4 numerics) unless reporting time in minutes past the hour (2 numerics) as prescribed by regional air navigation agreements.

Item 6 — ENSUING SIGNIFICANT POINT. Report the ensuing significant point following the ‘next position and estimated time over’.

Section 2 

Item 7 — ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL. Report the name of the aerodrome of the first intended landing, followed by the estimated time of arrival at this aerodrome in hours and minutes UTC (4 numerics).

Item 8 — ENDURANCE. Report ‘ENDURANCE’ followed by fuel endurance in hours and minutes (4 numerics).

Section 3 

Item 9 — PHENOMENON PROMPTING A SPECIAL AIR-REPORT. Report one of the following phenomena encountered or observed:

— moderate turbulence as ‘TURBULENCE MODERATE’, and

— severe turbulence as ‘TURBULENCE SEVERE’.

The following specifications apply:

—Moderate — Conditions in which moderate changes in aircraft attitude and/or altitude may occur but the aircraft remains in positive control at all times. Usually, small variations in airspeed. Changes in accelerometer readings of 0,5 g to 1,0 g at the aircraft’s centre of gravity. Difficulty in walking. Occupants feel strain against seat belts. Loose objects move about.

—Severe — Conditions in which abrupt changes in aircraft attitude and/or altitude occur; aircraft may be out of control for short periods. Usually, large variations in airspeed. Changes in accelerometer readings greater than 1,0 g at the aircraft’s centre of gravity. Occupants are forced violently against seat belts. Loose objects are tossed about.

— moderate icing as ‘ICING MODERATE’, severe icing as ‘ICING SEVERE’;

The following specifications apply:

—Moderate — Conditions in which change of heading and/or altitude may be considered desirable.

—Severe — Conditions in which immediate change of heading and/or altitude is considered essential.

— Severe mountain wave as ‘MOUNTAIN WAVE SEVERE’;

The following specification applies:

—Severe — Conditions in which the accompanying downdraft is 3,0 m/s (600 ft/min) or more and/or severe turbulence is encountered.

— Thunderstorm without hail as ‘THUNDERSTORM’, thunderstorm with hail as ‘THUNDERSTORM WITH HAIL’;

The following specification applies:

Only report those thunderstorms which are:

— obscured in haze, or

— embedded in cloud, or

— widespread, or

— forming a squall line.

— Heavy duststorm or sandstorm as ‘DUSTSTORM HEAVY’ or ‘SANDSTORM HEAVY’;

— Volcanic ash cloud as ‘VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD’;

— Pre-eruption volcanic activity or a volcanic eruption as ‘PRE-ERUPTION VOLCANIC ACTIVITY’ or ‘VOLCANIC ERUPTION’;

The following specification applies:

‘Pre-eruption volcanic activity’ in this context means unusual and/or increasing volcanic activity which could presage a volcanic eruption.

2.2.  Information recorded on the volcanic activity reporting form (Model VAR) is not for transmission by RTF but, on arrival at an aerodrome, is to be delivered without delay by the operator or a flight crew member to the aerodrome meteorological office. If such an office is not easily accessible, the completed form shall be delivered in accordance with local arrangements agreed upon between MET and ATS providers and the aircraft operator.

3. FORWARDING OF METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION RECEIVED BY VOICE COMMUNICATIONS