6.1 Aircraft observations
6.1.1 Routine observations made by aircraft are not required in the Tirana FIR.
6.1.2 Special aircraft observations are required to be issued by aircraft as special air-reports in Tirana FIR whenever the following conditions are encountered or observed:
- moderate or severe turbulence; or
- moderate or severe icing; or
- severe mountain wave; or
- thunderstorms, without hail, that are obscured, embedded, widespread or in squall lines; or
- thunderstorms, with hail, that are obscured, embedded, widespread or in squall lines; or
- heavy dust storm or heavy sandstorm; or
- volcanic ash cloud; or
- pre-eruption volcanic activity or a volcanic eruption; or
- the runway braking action encountered is not as good as reported.
6.1.3 Flight crews shall compile the reports using forms based on the model AIREP SPECIAL form as set out in point A, Appendix 5 of SERA. Those reports shall comply with the detailed instructions for reporting, as provided in point 2 of Appendix 5.
6.1.3.1 The detailed instructions, including the formats of messages and the phraseologies provided in Appendix 5 of SERA, shall be used by flight crews when transmitting air-reports and by ATS units when retransmitting such reports.
6.1.3.2 Special air-reports containing observations of volcanic activity shall be recorded on the special air-report of volcanic activity form. Forms based on the model form for special air-reports of volcanic activity set out in point B, Appendix 5 of SERA shall be provided for flight crews operating on routes which could be affected by volcanic ash clouds.
6.1.4 When other meteorological conditions not listed in 6.1.2, e.g. wind shear, are encountered and which, in the opinion of the pilot-in-command, may affect the safety or markedly affect the efficiency of other aircraft operations, the pilot-in-command shall advise the appropriate ATS unit as soon as practicable.
6.1.5 Aircraft observations shall be reported during flight at the time the observation is made or as soon thereafter as is practicable.
6.1.6 Aircraft observations shall be reported as air-reports and shall comply with the technical specifications in Appendix 5 of SERA.
6.1.7 ATS units shall transmit, as soon as practicable, special and non-routine air-reports to:
- other aircraft concerned;
- the associated meteorological watch office (MWO) in accordance with point 3, Appendix 5 of SERA; and
- other ATS units concerned.
6.1.8 Transmissions to aircraft shall be repeated at a frequency and continued for a period of time which shall be determined by the ATS unit concernedSpecial air-reports should be transmitted with the least possible delay and disseminated to aircraft for a period of 60 minutes after their issuance.
6.2 Specific provisions related to reporting wind shear and volcanic ash
Reporting of wind shear
When reporting aircraft observations of wind shear encountered during the climb-out and approach phases of flight, the aircraft type shall be included.
Where wind shear conditions in the climb-out or approach phases of flight were reported or forecast but not encountered, the pilot-in-command shall advise the appropriate ATS unit as soon as practicable unless the pilot-in-command is aware that the appropriate ATS unit has already been so advised by a preceding aircraft.
Post-flight reporting of volcanic activity
On arrival of a flight at an aerodrome, the completed report of volcanic activity shall be delivered by the aircraft operator or a flight crew member, without delay, to the aerodrome meteorological office, or if such office is not easily accessible to arriving flight crew members, the completed form shall be dealt with in accordance with local arrangements agreed upon between MET and ATS providers and the aircraft operator.
The completed report of volcanic activity received by an aerodrome meteorological office shall be transmitted without delay to the meteorological watch office responsible for the provision of meteorological watch for the flight information region in which the volcanic activity was observed.
6.3 In-flight Procedures
6.3.1 Aircraft can obtain aerodrome weather information from any of the following methods:
- Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS); and
- by request to an ATS Unit but whenever possible only if the information required is not available from a broadcast.
6.3.2 When an aircraft diverts, or proposes to divert, to an aerodrome along a route for which no forecast has been provided, the commander may request the relevant information from the ATS unit serving the aircraft at the time, and the necessary forecasts will be provided by the Forecast Office.