METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES

GEN 3.5 METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES

1 RESPONSIBLE SERVICE

1.1 The meteorological services for civil aviation are provided by the Meteorological Services Division of the National Environment Agency.

Post:

THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL
Meteorological Service Singapore
Singapore Changi Airport,
P.O. Box 8
SINGAPORE 918141

Tel: (65) 65457190(HQ)
(65) 65425059 / (65) 65422837 (MET Office)

Fax: (65) 65457192 (HQ)
(65) 65425026 (MET Office)

AFS: WSSSYMYX

URL: www.weather.gov.sg

1.2 The service is provided in accordance with the provisions contained in the following ICAO documents:

Annex 3	– Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation
Doc 7030	– Regional Supplementary Procedures Part 3 - Meteorology

1.3 Differences to these provisions are detailed in subsection GEN 1.7.

2 AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

2.1 Area meteorological watch is provided for the Singapore FIR.

3 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AND REPORTS

TABLE GEN 3.5.3 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 & Sites (s)	Hours of Operation	Climatological Information
1	2	3	4	5	6
SINGAPORE/ Singapore Changi WSSS	Half hourly plus special observations	METAR SPECI TREND WS	Ultrasonic Wind Sensor at MET station situated 345m west of centre of RWY 02L/20R. (wind report in METAR and SPECI taken from this measurement). Cup anemometers and wind vanes at ends and middle of both runways. Windsocks at ends of both runways. Transmissometers at both ends and in the middle of both runways. Low level wind shear observations made continuously by system of 13 surface wind sensors located in the airport and its vicinity. MET Doppler Weather Radar detecting windshear within 20km and monitoring storms up to 480km.	H24	Climatological Summaries available at Singapore MET Services of the National Environment Agency.
SINGAPORE/ Seletar WSSL	Hourly plus special observations	METAR SPECI	Ultrasonic wind sensors at the ends of runway (surface wind report in METAR and SPECI is taken from measurements of the ultrasonic wind sensor at RWY 03). Windsocks at ends of RWY 03/21.	H24	NIL
SINGAPORE/ Paya Lebar WSAP	Hourly plus special observations	METAR SPECI	Cup anemometers and wind vanes at both ends of RWY 02/20 (wind report in METAR and SPECI taken from the measurement associated with the RWY in use).	H24	NIL

4 TYPES OF SERVICES

4.1 The Meteorological Office and Meteorological Watch Office at Singapore Changi Airport operate H24 and provide the following services for civil aviation:

Full meteorological documentation and briefing for current operational planning for all flights operating out of Singapore Changi Airport;
Area meteorological watch over the Singapore FIR with the supply of meteorological information including SIGMET information to aircraft in flight through the Singapore ATS radio channels (see subsection AD 2.11);
HF RTF VOLMET broadcasts of meteorological information (see page GEN 3.5-7), Aviation weather report with trend statement, strong low level vertical wind shear report and aerodrome warnings are also included in VHF ATIS broadcasts for Singapore Changi Airport (see page GEN 3.4-3);
Meteorological information for ATS

4.2 Weather briefing by a forecaster is available H24 to qualified flight operations personnel at the Meteorological Office at Singapore Changi Airport or via telephone at (65)65425059 / (65)65422837. Weather information is available online via our Aviation Intranet at URL http://www.weather.gov.sg/ (see paragraph 9.2 for further details).

4.3 The Meteorological Office at Seletar Aerodrome operates H24 and provides meteorological documentation without briefing for international and general aviation flights operating out of Seletar Aerodrome.

4.4 Details of documentation supplied for each flight are determined by arrangement between the operator and the Meteorological Office. In general, the pilot-in-command is provided with documentation comprising one or more fixed-time prognostic streamline/istotach/spot temperature charts of standard isobaric surfaces appropriate to the cruising level (ICAO model IS), one of fixed-time prognostic significant weather chart code form and appropriate aerodrome forecasts in TAF code form.

4.5 Routine aerodrome forecasts received from other Meteorological Offices are normally included in meteorological documentation without modification. When a required aerodrome forecast is not received, a provisional forecast may be issued by the Meteorological Office providing the documentation.

4.6 After documentation has been issued and until take-off (i.e. the latest ETD notified to the Meteorological Office), the Meteorological Office at Singapore Changi Airport makes available amendments to the documentation. It is the responsibility of the operator’s local representative or the pilot-in-command to obtain any pre-departure amendment(s) from the Meteorological Office at Singapore Changi Airport. The pilot-in-command may request pre-departure amendment(s) through the Singapore Changi Airport Control Tower.

4.7 Climatological Summaries for Singapore Changi (WSSS-48698) are available from the Meteorological Service Singapore.

4.8 OBSERVING SYSTEMS AND OPERATING PROCEDURES AT SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT AND SELETAR AERODROME

4.8.1 SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT

4.8.1.1 RWY 02L/20R (Runway 1)

4.8.1.1.1 Surface wind is measured by three cup anemometers and wind vanes located as follows:

	DIST FROM END OF RWY	DIST FROM RWY CENTRELINE
(i) One set at	470 metres north of RWY 02L	130 metres
(ii) One set at	middle of runway	130 metres
(iii) One set at	470 metres south of RWY 20R	130 metres

4.8.1.1.2 RVR observations are made by means of three sets of transmissometers, located as follows:

	DIST FROM END OF RWY	DIST FROM RWY CENTRELINE
1st set	370 metres north of RWY 02L	110 metres
2nd set	Middle of runway	110 metres
3rd set	360 metres south of RWY 20R	110 metres

RVR is reported in steps of 25 metres between 0 and 400 metres, 50 metres between 400 and 800 metres and 100 metres between 800 and 1,500 metres.

4.8.1.2 RWY 02C/20C (Runway II)

4.8.1.2.1 Surface wind is measured by three cup anemometers and wind vanes located as follows:

	DIST FROM END OF RWY	DIST FROM RWY CENTRELINE
(i) One set at	450 metres north of RWY 02C	130 metres
(ii) One set at	middle of runway	130 metres
(iii) One set at	450 metres south of RWY 20C	130 metres

4.8.1.2.2 RVR observations are made by means of three sets of transmissometers, located as follows:

	DIST FROM END OF RWY	DIST FROM RWY CENTRELINE
1st set	400 metres north of RWY 02C	110 metres
2nd set	Middle of runway	110 metres
3rd set	400 metres south of RWY 20C	110 metres

RVR is reported in steps of 25 metres between 0 and 400 metres, 50 metres between 400 and 800 metres and 100 metres between 800 and 1,500 metres.

4.8.1.2.3 Surface wind is also measured by an ultrasonic wind sensor located at the meteorological station, which is situated at 345 metres west of middle of RWY 02L/20R. Surface wind report in METAR and SPECI is taken from this measurement.

4.8.1.3 Wind Shear Observations (Singapore Changi Airport)

4.8.1.3.1 Horizontal low level wind shear observations are measured continuously by a system of 13 wind sensors located in Singapore Changi airport and its vicinity.

4.8.1.3.2 ATC will pass to all aircraft taking off or landing for the next 1/2 hour from the time of report whenever microburst or wind shear of intensity 15 knots or greater is observed/reported.

4.8.1.3.3 The phraseology used by ATC to warn pilots of the presence of wind shear of intensity between 15 and 30 knots is:

“.................. (callsign) WIND SHEAR WARNING
STRONG LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR OBSERVED IN THE VICINITY OF
CHANGI AIRPORT AT ....... (time)”

4.8.1.3.4 The phraseology used by ATC to warn pilots of the presence of wind shear of intensity greater than 30 knots is:

“...........(callsign) WIND SHEAR WARNING
SEVERE LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR OBSERVED IN THE VICINITY OF
CHANGI AIRPORT AT ........(time)”

4.8.1.3.5 The presence of wind shear will also be broadcast in the ATIS for the next half an hour.

4.8.2 SELETAR AERODROME

4.8.2.1 Surface wind is measured by ultrasonic wind sensors at ends of runway. Surface wind report in METAR and SPECI is taken from measurements of the ultrasonic wind sensor at RWY 03.

4.8.2.2 Wind Shear Observations (Seletar Aerodrome)

4.8.2.2.1 ATC will pass to all aircraft taking off or landing for the next 1/2 hour from the time of report whenever microburst or windshear of intensity 15 knots or greater is observed/reported.

4.8.2.2.2 The phraseology used by ATC to warn pilots of the presence of wind shear of intensity between 15 and 30 knots is:

“...........(callsign) WIND SHEAR WARNING
STRONG LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR OBSERVED IN THE VICINITY OF
SELETAR AIRPORT AT ........(time)”

4.8.2.2.3 The phraseology used by ATC to warn pilots of the presence of wind shear of intensity greater than 30 knots is:

“...........(callsign) WIND SHEAR WARNING
SEVERE LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR OBSERVED IN THE VICINITY OF
SELETAR AIRPORT AT ........(time)”

5 NOTIFICATION REQUIRED FROM OPERATORS

5.1 It is the responsibility of the operator or the pilot-in-command to notify the meteorological office of any flight for which meteorological documentation is required (ref. ICAO Annex 3, paragraph 2.3). As much prior notice as possible should be given, and at least one hour notice at Singapore Changi Airport and two hours at Seletar Aerodrome would be required for nonscheduled flights.

6 AIRCRAFT REPORTS REQUIRED FROM OPERATORS

6.1 AIREP

6.1.1 Routine aircraft meteorological observations shall be made and the reports transmitted at ATS/ MET reporting points listed on page GEN 3.5-6 and as indicated in subsection ENR 3.1 - ATS ROUTES.

6.1.2 Special aircraft observations and aircraft observations during climb-out and approach shall be made and the reports transmitted as necessary.

6.1.3 Special aircraft observations of pre-eruption volcanic activity, volcanic eruption or volcanic ash cloud shall be recorded on the special Air-Report of Volcanic Activity form which can be downloaded from URL https://fpl-1.caasaim.gov.sg/. A copy of the completed Volcanic Activity Report shall be delivered by the operator or a flight crew member, without delay, either personally or by telephone facsimile (TEL: 65425026 or 65429978) to the Meteorological Office, Singapore Changi Airport.

6.2 REPORTING OF LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR

6.2.1 Pilots encountering wind shear shall report to ATC as soon as possible.

6.2.2 When reporting wind shear on radiotelephony, the information should be transmitted in this order:

Aircraft callsign;
WIND SHEAR report;
Time (of wind shear occurrence);
Position (of wind shear);
Intensity (moderate, strong or severe);
Average height of wind shear layer.

6.2.3 On receipt of a wind shear report from a pilot, ATC will pass it to other aircraft in the vicinity. The following phraseology will be used:

“WIND SHEAR WARNING
ARRIVING (or DEPARTING) ........... (type of aircraft)
REPORTED ...................... (moderate, strong, severe)
WIND SHEAR IN APPROACH (or DEPARTURE)
RUNWAY ................ (number) AT ..................... (time)
HEIGHT OF WIND SHEAR LAYER ................... (feet)”

6.2.4 The presence of wind shear as reported by a pilot will also be broadcast in the ATIS for the next half an hour unless subsequent reports indicate that wind shear no longer exists.

6.3 AIRCRAFT ATS/MET REPORTING POINTS IN THE SINGAPORE FIR

6.3.1 Aircraft Meteorological Observations shall be made in relation to and transmitted in flight by all aircraft at the following selected Air Traffic Services position reporting points within the Singapore FIR except when:

The flight duration is less than 2 hours, or
The altitude of the flight path is less than 5 000ft, or
The aircraft is less than 1 hour’s flying time from the next intended point of landing.

6.3.2 The aircraft ATS/MET reporting points listed below are indicated in page ENR 3.1/ATS Chart.

6.3.3 The position of the mean wind or spot wind, to the nearest whole degree latitude and longitude, shall be recorded and transmitted in flight.

ATS ROUTE	AIRCRAFT ATS/MET REPORTING POINTS IN THE SINGAPORE FIR
G580	NIMIX
L642	ESPOB
L644	KIKOR
M635	SURGA
M758 / M767	TERIX
M767	TEGID
M768 / N884	LAGOT
M774	KADAR
L504	BAVUS
N875	ARUPA
N892	MELAS

7 VOLMET SERVICE

TABLE GEN 3.5.7 VOLMET SERVICE
Name of station	CALLSIGN IDENT (EM)	Frequency	Broadcast period	HR of SER	Aerodromes included	Contents and format of REP and FCST
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
SINGAPORE	SINGAPORE RADIO (A3J)	6676KHz (1230-2230) 11387KHz (2230-1230)	H + 20 to H + 25 and	H24	SINGAPORE (1) SINGAPORE (2) KUALA LUMPUR (3)(4) SUBANG AIRPORT (4) SOEKARNO-HATTA (3)(4) KUCHING (3)(4) BRUNEI (3)(4) KOTA KINABALU (3)(4) DEN PASAR (3) (4) PENANG (3)(4) SINGAPORE (5) KUALA LUMPUR (4)(8)	SIGMET METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR TAF TAF
			H + 50 to H + 55		SINGAPORE (1) SINGAPORE (6) KUALA LUMPUR (4)(7) SUBANG AIRPORT (4) SOEKARNO-HATTA (4)(7) KUCHING (4)(7) BRUNEI (4)(7) KOTA KINABALU (4)(7) DEN PASAR (4)(7) PENANG (4)(7) SINGAPORE (5) SOEKARNO HATTA (4)(8)	SIGMET METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR TAF TAF
	Plain Language EN. (1) SIGMET message or ‘NIL’ is transmitted. (2) Latest routine report H+00 including trend statement; repeated at end of broadcast, time permitting. (3) H+00 (or the previous H+30 report when the H+00 report is not available) including trend statement when appended. (4) As available. (5) Valid for 12 hours. (6) Latest routine report H+30 including trend statement; repeated at end of broadcast, time permitting. (7) H+30 (or the H+00 report when the H+30 report is not available) including trend statement when appended. (8) Valid for 30 hours.
SINGAPORE	SINGAPORE VOLMET	D-VOLMET	as required	H24	SINGAPORE KUALA LUMPUR SOEKARNO-HATTA SINGAPORE KUALA LUMPUR SUBANG AIRPORT SOEKARNO-HATTA KUCHING BRUNEI KOTA KINABALU DEN PASAR PENANG SINGAPORE KUALA lUMPUR SOEKARNO-HATTA	SIGMET SIGMET SIGMET METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR METAR TAF TAF TAF
	Data Link VOLMET (D-VOLMET) service available H24. AP Ident WSSS. Messages comply with ARINC 623 standards.

8 SIGMET SERVICE

TABLE GEN 3.5.8 SIGMET SERVICE
Name of MWO/ location indicators	Hours of Operation	FIR or CTA served	Type of SIGMET / validity	Specific procedures	ATS unit served	Additional Information
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
SINGAPORE	H24	Singapore FIR	SIGMET / 4-6HR	Nil	Singapore ACC	Nil

8.1 General

8.1.1 For the safety of air traffic, the Meteorological Authority maintains an area meteorological watch and warning service. This service consists partly of a continuous weather watch within the lower and upper FIR and issuance of appropriate information (SIGMET) by Meteorological Watch Office and partly of the issuing of warnings for Changi Airport.

8.2 Area Meteorological Watch Service

8.2.1 The area meteorological watch service is performed by the Meteorological Office, Singapore.

8.2.2 The Meteorological Office, Singapore issues information in the form of SIGMET messages about the occurrence or expected occurrence of one or several of the following significant meteorological phenomena:

thunderstorms *
severe turbulence
severe icing
severe mountain waves
heavy sand storm/dust storm
volcanic ash cloud
tropical cyclone

* Area of widespread cumulonimbus clouds or cumulonimbus along a line (squall line) with little or no space between individual clouds, or cumulonimbus embedded in cloud layers or obscured by haze.

8.2.3 The SIGMETs are issued in abbreviated plain language using ICAO abbreviations and are respectively numbered consecutively for each day commencing at 0001. Their period of validity is generally not more than 4 hours and less than 6 hours from the time of transmission.

8.2.4 SIGMETs issued by the Meteorological Office, Singapore are transmitted to adjacent MWOs in accordance with regional air navigation agreements and inserted in the MET page of LORADS (Long Range Radar and Display System) for use by the Singapore Air Traffic Control Centre.

8.3 Warning Service

8.3.1 Aerodrome warnings for Changi Airport are issued by Meteorological Office, Singapore if one or several of the following phenomena are expected to occur at the airport:

squall
thunderstorm
hail
tornado
horizontal visibility and/or RVR of 800 metres or less
mean surface wind speed of 25 knots or more
wind gusts of 35 knots or more
cloud of BKN or OVC amount with base 500 ft or less

8.3.2 The warnings are:

for the protection of parked and moored aircraft,
for the protection of equipment at the airport, and
for the safety of arriving and departing aircraft.

8.3.3 The warnings are issued in English and are distributed in accordance with a distribution list which has to be agreed upon locally. In order to guarantee rapid dissemination of the warnings, the distribution list to be used shall, as far as possible, contain only one recipient for an interested group; this recipient will be responsible for the further dissemination of the warning within the group.

8.3.4 SIGMET is disseminated by directed transmissions to aircraft through general calls by the Area Control Centre, Singapore for Singapore FIR.

9 OTHER AUTOMATED METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES

9.1 Besides VOLMET and ATIS broadcasts, airline operators can obtain access to various operational meteorological information through our Aviation Weather Services Portal and automated faxing service.

9.2 The Aviation Weather Services Portal is free to airlines and flight operators with flights departing from Singapore Changi or Seletar Airports. It is accessible via the "Login" link at URL http://www.weather.gov.sg/. A registered user account is required for the access. For registration, please email to MSS_Aviation_Enquiries@nea.gov.sg

TABLE 3.5.9 AVIATION WEATHER SERVICES PORTAL
Service Name	Information Available	Area, Route and Aerodrome Coverage	Telephone and Telefax numbers Remarks
1	2	3	4
Aviation Weather Services Portal	METAR, SPECI, TAF, AD Warning, Wind Shear Warning, SIGMET, Tropical Cyclone Warnings/Advisories, Volcanic Ash, Radioactive Fallout and Haze Information Advisories	All METAR, SPECI, TAF, SIGMET, Tropical Cyclone Warnings/Advisories, Volcanic Ash, Radioactive Fallout Advisories received from designated major centres around the world. AD Warning and Wind Shear Warning for WSSS and WSSL. Haze Information/Advisories for Southeast Asia Region
	Latest Himawari-8 composite and true colour satellite images every 20 minutes	Southeast Asia and full globe
	Latest Himawari-8 IR and hourly cloud top height satellite images every 10-minutes	Asia Pacific
	Latest images from other satellites such as EUMETSAT, NOAA and Feng-Yun weather satellites	Europe, US Polar, America and Asia Pacific
	Low-to-Mid-Level Significant Weather charts	Low-Medium level (Surface-FL250) covering southern ASEAN region
	WAFS (World Area Forecast System) SIGWX charts	Medium-High level covering Asia, Middle East, Africa, America and Europe
	Prognostic Wind-Temperature charts	Standard levels covering Europe, America, Asia-Pacific regions and the southern ASEAN region.
	Weather Radar images	Latest Singapore Changi Airport 70km, 240km and 480km range rain intensity radar plots.
	WAFC Washington model gridded data	Full globe forecast of winds, temperature, turbulence potential, icing potential and horizontal extent of cumulonimbus clouds
	Take-off conditions	Singapore Changi Airport
	Climb and Descent winds forecast	Selected airports over Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa and North America

Note: Details of meteorological briefing at aerodromes are given in the individual aerodrome sections,
i.e. AD 2