12 May 2014 Page 1

CONTRIBUTION OF OPMET TO

THE ENHANCEMENT OF AIR

NAVIGATION SAFETY

ICAO WESTERN AND

CENTRAL AFRICAN OFFICE, DAKAR

Workshop on the mitigation of loss of Operational messages (Flight Plans, NOTAMs & OPMETs)

Dakar, Senegal, 12-14 May 2014

12 May 2014 Page 2

SUMMARY

1. Types of OPMET Exchanged in the AFI Region;

2. OPMET data availability requirements;

3. Time critical, non-time critical MET data;

4. OPMET Exchange - AMBEX Scheme;

5. OPMET Monitoring Results;

6. Proposed solutions.

12 May 2014 Page 3

1. Types of OPMET Messages

Exchanged in the AFI Region

TT Type de Message Regular Non-regular

SA METAR X

SP SPECI X

FT 24/36 HR TAF X

WC SIGMET for Tropical Cyclone X

WV SIGMET for Volcanic Ash X

WS SIGMET for other MET phenomena X

UA SPECIAL AIREP X

FV Volcanic Ash Advisory X

FK Tropical Cyclone Advisory X

12 May 2014 Page 4

2. OPMET Data

Availability Requirements

�In accordance with ICAO Annex 3, Appendix 10 para 1.1, the required transit times of AFTN MET messages and bulletins containing OPMET information should achieve transit times of less than :

�5mn for SIGMET, VAA, TCA, SP AIREP, Amend-TAF, Amend-SIGWX and Amend-upper Wind/Temp/Humid forecasts in abbreviated plain-language and METAR/TAF/SPECI received from 0–900 km radius.

�10mn for METAR/TAF/SPECI received from more than 900 km radius.

12 May 2014 Page 5

2. OPMET Data

Availability Requirements

� In accordance with ICAO Annex 3, Appendix

10 para 2.1.2, the filing times of METAR and

TAF bulletins are as follows:

�Not later than 5 minutes after the actual time of

observation. For METAR; and

�not earlier than 1 hour prior to the beginning of

TAF validity period for TAF.

12 May 2014 Page 6

3. Time Critical,

Non-time Critical of MET Messages

� TIME-CRITICAL METEOROLOGICAL MESSAGES

1. In accordance with ICAO Doc 9855, para. 4.2, the following MET information will be referred to as time-critical MET information, and it should be distributed via the AFS and received in a timely manner:

a) SIGMET information;

b) Special AIREP

c) AIRMET messages (not distributed in the AFI region);

d) VAA;

e) TCA; and

f) Amend-TAF.

12 May 2014 Page 7

3. Time Critical,

Non-time Critical MET Messages

2. In accordance with ICAO Annex 10 — Aeronautical

Telecom, Volume II, the above listed MET information is

also classified under “flight safety messages” category.

� NON-TIME-CRITICAL METEOROLOGICAL MESSAGES

� In accordance with ICAO Doc 9855, para. 4,3, the

following MET information is considered non-time-

critical:

a) TAF, METAR and SPECI;

12 May 2014 Page 8

3. Time Critical,

Non-time Critical MET Messages

b) SIGWX charts and Upper wind/temp/humid

forecasts provided by the WAFCs;

c) VAG in (VAA in graphical format) provided by the

VAACs;

d) GAMET area forecasts (not distributed in the AFI

region); and

e) ROFOR (route forecasts - not distributed in the AFI

region).

12 May 2014 Page 9

4. OPMET Exchange –AMBEX Scheme

� 2 telecom. means used:

� AFTN: for ground-ground exchange; and

� SADIS: for OPMET distribution by London WAFC

through satellite broadcast and SADIS FTP.

� In the AFI region, OPMET are exchanged through the

AFI Meteorological Bulletin Exchange (AMBEX)

scheme.

12 May 2014 Page 10

AMBEX Scheme – Main Objectif

�The main objective of the AMBEX Scheme is to:

�effectively and economically exchanges OPMET

information in the AFI and its adjacent ICAO regions

to meet users needs ; and

�effectively implement ICAO SARP on OPMET related

to Annexes 3 and 10, and the relevant provisions in

the AFI ANP (Doc 7474).

12 May 2014 Page 11

Historical

� The AMBEX scheme was established by APIRG in August

1986;

� AMBEX scheme was initially intended only for TAF

exchanges;

� AIREPs and METAR were added to the scheme in avril 1998

(APIRG/11 Conc. 11/22) and June 2001 (APIRG/13, Conc.

13/66) respectively.

� Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA) and tropical Cyclone (TCA) has

been added in this edition in June 2009 during its 7e

édition.

12 May 2014 Page 12

AMBEX OPMET Data Exchange

� OPMET bulletins and Individual messages are exchanged

under the AMBEX Scheme.

� A bulletin contents OPMET messages of the same type.

� The format of the bulletins are described in :

– ICAO Annex 10, for the AFTN envelope of the bulletin;

– The WMO Guide -No.386, for the abbreviated heading of the

bulletin;

– ICAO Annex 3 and WMO Guide No.306, for the format and

coding of the information included in the bulletin.

12 May 2014 Page 13

Components of the AMBEX Scheme

The AMBEX scheme involves the following

operational units :

�Originating station (in national aerodromes);

�NOCs (National OPMET Centre);

� BCCs (Bulletin compiling Centre);

� RODBs (Regional OPMET Data Banks); and

� IROGs (Interregional OPMET gateway).

12 May 2014 Page 14

RODB/IROG DAKAR RODB/IROG PRETORIA

EURLFZZ

NAM SAM CAR CAR

SADISEGRR

ASIA/PAC

Johannesburg

DRRNFCBBGOOYDRRNFCBB

FKKD

FEFF DGAA GBYDDBBB GFLL

FTTJ

DXXX

DNMM

GOOY

DFFD

FZAA

FOOL

FGSL

FNLU

FPST

AFTN AFTN

PlannedDRRN

DIAP

AFI RODB/IROG

AFI BCC

AFI NOC

FMEEHHAS

HSSJ

FHAW

FAPRHKNAFMMIHAAB

HKJKFMMIHAAB

FIMP HTDA FBSKFAPR

HRYR

HBBA

HUEN

FXMM

FDMS

FYWH

FQMA

FWKI

FVHA

FLKK

FSIAGQNN

GLRB

HDAM

GVAC

FMCH

DIAP

GABS

GGOV

GUCYHCMM

FAOR

FJDG

DIAPDIAP

DIYODIYO

DIBKDIBK

DIYODIYO AOP/N-AOP

12 May 2014 Page 15

Responsibilities of the AMBEX Units

� National aerodromes to forward the individual

OPMET message to the associated NOC;

� Associated NOC (48 national AFTN centres) to:

� collect all OPMET messages generated by the

originating stations in the State; and

� send them to the responsible.

� In some States a NOC can also play the function of a

BCC or an RODB .

12 May 2014 Page 16

Responsibilities of the AMBEX Units

� BCCs (7) are responsible for the

exchange of compiled OPMET bulletins

with:

�other BCCs, according to predefined routing

tables;

�AFI RODBs (Dakar and Pretoria);

�NOCs in the States in their area of

responsibilities.

12 May 2014 Page 17

Responsibilities of the AMBEX Units

�RODBs (2) are responsible for :

� the collect OPMET bulletins from the BCCs in their area of

responsibility and store them in a data base;

� the provision of facilities for “request-reply” service to the

authorized users;

� The maintenance of a catalogue of bulletins;

� The quality control of the incoming bulletins and inform the

BCCs concerned of any discrepancies or shortfalls; and

� the monitoring of the OPMET traffic by carrying out regular

tests on the availability and timeliness of the bulletins; and

report to the ICAO Regional Office on the results.

12 May 2014 Page 18

Responsibilities of the AMBEX Units

� AFI RODBs also given the responsibilties of AFI IROGs.

� IROGs are responsible for OPMET exchanges between AFI

region and adjacent ICAO Regions.

� Responsibilities IROGs AFI:

RESPONSABILITES IROG/DAKAR IROG/PRETORIA

Incoming

Messages

Rio de Janeiro,

Djeddah, Toulouse

Rio de Janeiro, Djeddah,

Bangkok, Toulouse

Outgoing

Messages

Rio de Janeiro,

Toulouse

Rio de Janeiro, Djeddah,

Bangkok, Toulouse

12 May 2014 Page 19

5. OPMET Monitoring Results - WACAF

0% Betwen 0 and 50% Between 50 and 100%

AVAILABILITY OF METAR AT DAKAR RODB January to March 2014

METAR % H+15 METAR % H+30

57,7%53,6%

12 May 2014 Page 20

5. OPMET Monitoring Results - WACAF

Aerodromes with 0%

availability (13)Bouaké, RCI

Tamale, GHANA

Kumasi, GHANA

Labe, GUINEE

N'Zerekore, GUINEE

Kankan, GUINEE

Gao, MALI

Kidal, MALI

Tombouctou, MALI

Atar, MAURITANIE

Maiduguri, NIGERIA

El Aaiun, SAHARA

OCCIDENTALE

Villacisneros, W SAHARA

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

METAR % H+15 METAR % H+30

AVAILABILITY OF METAR AT DAKAR RODB

January to March 2014

Between 0 and 50%

12 May 2014 Page 21

5. OPMET Monitoring Results - WACAF

AVAILABILITY OF METAR AT DAKAR RODB January to March 2014

Between 50 and 100

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

METAR % H+15 METAR % H+30

12 May 2014 Page 22

75%

51%

16%

8%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

TAF % BeforeHH-60 TAF % betwH-1 and HH

TAF % afterHH % total

AVAILABILITY OF TAF AT DAKAR RODB January to March 2014

5. OPMET Monitoring Results - WACAF

No TAF received from

Kumasi, GHANA

12

Ma

y 2

01

4P

ag

e 2

3

5. O

PM

ET

Mo

nito

ring

Re

sults -

WA

CA

F

0%

10

%

20

%

30

%

40

%

50

%

60

%

70

%

80

%

90

%

10

0%

Bissau, GUINEE BISSAU

Maiduguri, NIGERIA

Sokoto, NIGERIA

Kano, NIGERIA

Sao Tome, SAO TOME

Roberts, LIBERIA

Bangui, RCA

Conakry, GUINEE

Accra, GHANA

Kinshasa, RDC

N'Djamena, TCHAD

Nouakchott, MAURITANIE

Gao, MALI

Niamey, NIGER

Nouadhibou, MAURITANIE

Luanda, ANGOLA

Port Gentil, GABON

Malabo, GUINEE EQUATORIALE

Niamtougou, TOGO

Ouaga, BURKINA

Bobo Dioulassso, BURKINA

Cotonou, BENIN

Bamako, MALI

Douala, CAMEROUN

Yaoundé, CAMEROUN

Abidjan, RCA

Praia, CAP-VERT

Bouaké, RCA

Yamoussoukro, RCA

Libreville, GABON

Lomé, TOGO

Sal Intl, CAP-VERT

Brazzaville, CONGO

Pointe Noire, CONGO

Banjul, GAMBIE

Dakar Yoff, SENEGAL

Cap Skiring, SENEGAL

Saint Louis, SENEGAL

TA

F %

Be

fore

HH

-60

TA

F %

be

twH

-1 a

nd

HH

TA

F %

afte

rHH

% to

tal

AV

AILA

BILIT

Y O

F TA

F A

T D

AK

AR

RO

DB

Jan

ua

ryto

Ma

rch 2

01

4

Be

twe

en

50

an

d 1

00

12 May 2014 Page 24

5. OPMET Monitoring Results - ESAF

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

TAF% Before H-60 TAF% Between H-60 and H

TAF % after H TAF %total

AVAILABILITY OF TAF AT DAKAR RODB January to March 2014

Between 50% and 100%

No TAF received from

� Durban, SOUTH AFRICA

� Mogadishu, SOMALIA

� Manzini/Matsapha,

SWAZILAND

� Livingstone, ZAMBIA

� Ndola, ZAMBIA

66,6%

17,8%

42,4%

12 May 2014 Page 25

5. OPMET Monitoring Results - ESAF

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

TAF% Before H-60 TAF% Between H-60 and H TAF % after H TAF %total

12 May 2014 Page 26

5. OPMET Monitoring Results – SIGMET TESTS

Operational Shortcomings and

Deficiencies

VAAC, TCAC, RODBs or MWOs

1

21 MWOs out of 35 in the AFI region

(60%) did not issue any WV SIGMET

during the Test period. An

improvement of 3% compared with

last year.

ESAF (15):Luanda, Bujumbura, Gaborone, Addis

Ababa, Asmara, Lilongwe, Maputo, Windhoek, Kigali,

Mahe, Dar Es Salaam, Entebbe, Harare, Tripoli*,

Khartoum*

WACAF (6): Accra, Alger*, Gran Canaria*, *Monrovia,

Tunis*, Casablanca*.

2 24 MWOs out of 35 in the AFI region

(69%) did not issue WS SIGMET

during the Test period. This is a

decline of 17 % compared to last

year’s results.

ESAF (15): Luanda, Gaborone, Bujumbura, Addis

Ababa, Nairobi, Lilongwe, Windhoek, Kigali,

Seychelles, Mogadishu*, Dar Es Salaam, Entebbe,

Lusaka, Harare, Maputo.

WACAF (9): Alger, Grand Canari*, Sal, N’Djamena,

Monrovia, Tunis*, Casablanca* Tripoli, Cairo

3 6 MWOs out of 9 expected to

respond in the AFI region (78 %) did

not issue any WC SIGMET during the

Test

Dar Es Salaam, Gaborone, Harare, Lilongwe Maputo.

Mauritius.

12 May 2014 Page 27

5. OPMET Monitoring Results – SIGMET TESTS

4 The listed 12 MWOs (34%) have never issued

any SIGMET during AFI SIGMET Tests. This is

an improvement of one MWO compared to

last year

ESAF (9) Luanda, Bujumbura, Addis

Ababa, Tripoli, , Windhoek, Kigali, Dar Es

Salaam, Lusaka, Harare.

WACAF (3): Alger, Gran Canaries*

Monrovia

5 2 MWOs did not use FF priority indicator to

disseminate WS SIGMET.

Brazzaville, Dakar

6 1 MWO did not use FF priority to disseminate

WV SIGMET

Dakar.

7 1 MWOs issued a WC SIGMET while it was

not required

Asmara

1 MWO issued WC SIGMET before advisory

was received

Asmara

8 WC SIGMETs from 2 MWOs were received late

at the RODBs, more than 10 mn after the

advisory was issued by FMEE.

Antananarivo, Johannesburg,

12 May 2014 Page 28

5. OPMET Monitoring Results – SIGMET TESTS

9 WV SIGMETs from 7 MWOs were received

late at the RODBs, more than 10 mn after

the advisory was issued by LFPW

Monrovia, Kano, Johannesburg,

Mauritius, Mogadishu, Asmara,

Lilongwe

10 3 MWO issued WS SIGMETs with an

incorrect weather phenomena description

or no weather phenomenon when there

should have been

Kano, Johannesburg, Mauritius.

3 MWOS issued SIGMETs before receiving

WV advisory

Antananarivo, Asmara, Casablanca,

11 Five (5) MWOs issued SIGMET test

messages without including a line of 12

“TEST” at the end of the SIGMET message

Dakar, Kano, Johannesburg , Asmara

Lilongwe

12 The trigger WC SIGMET sent 20 minutes

late

La Reunion.

12 May 2014 Page 2929Project title (Insert, Header & Footer)

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