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The Finnish Meteorological Institute, FMI
Erik Palménin Aukio 1 PL 503 FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland TEL: +358 29 539 1000 (switchboard) FAX: NIL E-mail: kirjaamo@fmi.fi AFS: EFKLYMYX Web: https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/aviation |
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Weather service is mainly based on (EU) 2017/373 Part-MET. Following ICAO documents are also applicable:
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Significant differences for ICAO standards and recommendations are given in section GEN 1.7.
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AltMoCs (alternative means of compliance) used in FMI’s weather service are listed in EASA’s website. Additional information on AltMoCs:
ilmailu@fmi.fi
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Meteorological service is provided within the Helsinki flight information region (HELSINKI FIR). Service provision for aerodromes is limited only to airports (REF definition in the Finnish Aviation Act).
Arrangement of possible weather services for uncontrolled aerodromes is under the responsibility of the aerodrome operator concerned. |
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Automatic observations are made at almost all airports, either H24 or partially. At Helsinki-Vantaa airport manual (semi-automatic) observations are made H24.
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In automatic weather observation additional sensors are used to estimate freezing and thundery conditions. Cloud observations are supported with weather radar-based CB-information.
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However, due to technical limitations the automatic observation system is not able to observe reliably e.g. all freezing conditions.
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The automatic aerodrome weather observation system is not able to observe present weather, clouds and visibility as accurately as a human observer. This should be noted by the pilots when using automatic weather information.
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Aircraft reports concerning wind shear during the take-off and / or landing will be added to the end of METAR report of the appropriate aerodrome. No wind shear information is included in AUTO METAR.
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As METAR reports are issued in Finland every 30 minutes, SPECI reports are not provided.
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In Finland, SPECIAL reports included in the ATIS information are not produced based on changes in the observed wind nor in the runway visual range (RVR). Based on international practices, QNH change is not a SPECIAL criterion (except at Helsinki-Vantaa).
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Notable is that the content of METAR reports available for flight planning purposes may sometimes differ significantly from the local reports (MET REPORT and SPECIAL) and real-time observational information provided by the ATS, due to e.g. different averaging times for the wind.
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1) At Enontekiö (EFET) and Mikkeli (EFMI) airports runway visual range measurement equipment is located at only one end of the runway. Whenever necessary, visual RVR observation is made on the other end of the runway during ATS OPR HR.
2) Manual (semi-automatic) observations during ATS OPR HR, otherwise automatic. 3) At aerodromes EFJY, EFRO, EFTP and EFUT manual observations mainly during office hours with the exception of a summer break. 4) Climatological information: https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/aviation |
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FMI is responsible for supply and distribution of the meteorological flight documentation. In addition to OPMET data banks, global weather information and documentation are available as a self-briefing service at
www.ilmailusaa.fi portal. The portal includes also other weather information like radar and satellite animations for Fennoscandian area. Furthermore, Nordic SWC and LLF area forecast are available on the website. Furthermore, portal provides several user guides on products and services.
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Weather consultation is provided by FMI’s aviation weather forecaster H24:
Aviation and Military Weather Services TEL +358 600 9 3808 *) *) Charged service |
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Climatological information for airports is available in
https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/aviation
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Meteorological Watch Office is Aviation and Military Weather Services South.
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In addition to Aviation and Military Weather Services South forecasting service is provided by Aviation and Military Weather Services North.
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AD 2.11 describes responsibilities between these offices for each airport.
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Note: In AD 2.11 following abbreviations are used for aerodrome meteorological offices: LEN South and LEN North.
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Aerodrome forecasts and forecasts for landing
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In Finland also long aerodrome forecasts (24 HR TAF) are issued every three hours. Long forecasts are provided for following airports: Helsinki-Vantaa (EFHK), Jyväskylä (EFJY), Kuopio (EFKU), Oulu (EFOU), Rovaniemi (EFRO), Tampere-Pirkkala (EFTP), Turku (EFTU) and Vaasa (EFVA).
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For other airports TAF forecasts are based on local ATC unit’s request. Length of forecast is up to 9 hours and 3 hours as a minimum.
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Forecasts for landing (TREND) are provided only for Helsinki-Vantaa (EFHK).
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En-route weather
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En-route meteorological information is given as significant weather charts (SIGWX) and prognostic upper air charts (wind and temperature). Charts are produced by WAFC London, global charts also by WAFC Washington.
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Aviation and Military Weather Services South prepares, in NAMCON cooperation with the national weather services of Sweden (SMHI), Norway (MET Norway) and Denmark (DMI), SWC and wind / temperature charts for flights within Finland and neighbouring areas. Charts are prepared four times per day (0000 UTC, 0600 UTC, 1200 UTC and 1800 UTC). Charts are issued either by the FMI or the SMHI.
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For VFR flights LLF (low-level forecast) area forecasts including both graphical and text parts are prepared by both offices. The areas are shown on the METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES chart, see ENR 6.5 - 1.
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Area forecasts are prepared daily 0455 UTC (0355 UTC), 0855 UTC (0755 UTC) and 1255 UTC (1155 UTC). The length of forecasts is 8 hours. LLF area forecasts are issued at
ilmailusaa.fi and
northavimet.com portals.
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Space weather
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Finland is responsible for the provision of global space weather service (SWX) in PECASUS consortium, which is one of the four global space weather centers (SWXC). An essential element of the service are the space weather advisories which will be disseminated through the aeronautical fixed network in cases of moderate or severe impacts of space weather phenomena of solar origin, notably with respect to HF and SAT communications, GNSS-based navigation and surveillance, and enhanced radiation levels at flight altitudes.
More information on the service: www.pecasus.org. |
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SWIM weather services
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FMI produces as SWIM services so called winter weather products for the European area. Winter weather products are available as point forecasts (e.g. for a certain airport) as well as grid forecasts. All European SWIM services can be found in SWIM registry:
https://eur-registry.swim.aero
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Any feedback and inquiries related to MET service should be addressed to the Finnish Meteorological Institute (ilmailu@fmi.fi).
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NIL
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Pilots are expected to give meteorological reports according to international practise, particularly when conditions are met of which no forecast or no warning is issued.
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Pilots are expected to report such information to the closest ATS unit. Based on pilot report FMI issues either ARS (special air-report) or WXREP message.
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WXREP is a national message and issued whenever ARS criteria are not met.
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VOLMET service is not available.
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SIGMETs are available e.g. at www.ilmailusaa.fi and www.northavimet.com, where these are also graphically visualized. Note: A possible abbreviation “TEST” or “EXER” inside SIGMET message refers to test or exercise purposes. These messages are not meant for operational decision making. |
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NIL
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