GEN 2.1 Measuring system, aircraft markings, holidays
1. Units of Measurement
1.1 The units of measurement used in Albania are in accordance with the International System of Units (SI) as specified in ICAO Annex 5, Chapter 3.
Measurement of | Units |
Distance used in navigation, position reporting etc. - generally in excess of 2 or 3 nautical miles | Nautical miles and tenths |
Relatively short distances such as those relating to aerodromes (e.g. runway lengths) | Metres |
Altitudes, elevations and heights | Feet and Flight Levels |
Horizontal speed including wind speed | Knots |
Vertical speed | Feet per minute |
Wind direction for landing and taking off | Degrees Magnetic |
Wind direction except for landing and taking off | Degrees True |
Visibility < 5000 metres (including RVR) | Metres |
Visibility > 5000 metres | Kilometres |
| Distance from cloud | Metres |
| Depth of runway deposit | Centimetres or millimetres |
Altimeter setting | Hectopascals |
Temperature | Degrees Celsius (Centigrade) |
Weight/mass | Metric tonnes or kilogrammes |
Date/Time | Year, Month, Day, Hour and Minute, the day of 24 hours beginning at midnight Co-ordinated Universal Time |
1.2 Where Annex 5 permits the use of non-SI alternative units these are shown in parentheses following the basic units.
2. Horizontal reference system
2.1 Geographical coordinates indicating latitude and longitude are expressed in terms of the World Geodetic System – 1984 (WGS-84) geodetic reference datum.
2.2 Geographical coordinates that have been transformed into WGS-84 coordinates by mathematical means and whose accuracy of original field work does not meet the applicable requirements contained in PANS-AIM Appendix 1 shall be identified either with an annotation or by explicitly providing the actual accuracy value.
2.3 In aeronautical information products that are distributed on paper, the identification will be done with an asterisk (*) following the coordinate value concerned.
3. Vertical reference system
3.1 Mean Sea Level (MSL) datum is used as the vertical reference system for international air navigation.
3.2 The Earth Gravitational Model - 1996 (EGM-96) is used as the global gravity model for international air navigation.
4. Temporal reference system
4.1 The Gregorian calendar and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) are used as the temporal reference system for international air navigation.
4.2 Time periods published in AIS products are in Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) except where otherwise stated.
4.3 Daylight saving time is UTC plus 1 hour. The expression “summer period” indicates that part of the year in which “daylight saving time” is in force. The other part of the year is named the “winter period”. Times applicable during the “summer period” are given in brackets.
4.4 The “summer period” is introduced every year on the last Sunday in MAR at 01:00 UTC and ceases on the last Sunday in OCT at 01:00 UTC.
5. Aircraft nationality and registration marks
5.1 The nationality mark for civil aircraft registered in Albania are the letters ZA. The nationality mark is followed by a hyphen and a registration mark consisting of 3 letters, e.g. ZA-ADE.
6. Public holidays
6.1 The following dates are notified as public holidays.
Name | Date/Day |
New Year’s Day | 1, 2 January |
Summer Day | 14 March |
Nevruz Day | 22 March |
Catholic Easter | Catholic Easter Sunday |
Orthodox Easter | Orthodox Easter Sunday |
Labour Day | 1 May |
End of Ramadan | According to Muslim Calendar |
Feast of Sacrifice | According to Muslim Calendar |
Saint Teresa Santification Day | 5 September |
Independence Day | 28 November |
Liberation Day | 29 November |
| National Youth Day | 8 December |
Christmas Day | 25 December |
Note: Banks and public institutions are closed during Saturdays and Sundays, as well as on public holidays.