GEN 3.5 — Meteorological Services
Responsible Authority
Meteorological services for civil aviation within the Damascus FIR are provided by the Syrian Meteorological Department in accordance with ICAO Annex 3 — Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation.
MET Services Provided
- Routine aerodrome weather reports (METAR/SPECI)
- Terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAF)
- SIGMET and AIRMET advisories
- Pre-flight meteorological briefings and flight documentation
- En-route weather information via VOLMET (128.400 MHz)
- Aerodrome warnings
- Wind shear warnings
Pre-flight Documentation
Pre-flight meteorological documentation is available at MET offices at each international airport (OSDI, OSAP, OSLK). Documentation includes:
- Route forecast and significant weather
- Destination and alternate aerodrome forecasts
- Wind and temperature data for filed cruising levels
- Current METAR/SPECI for departure, destination, and alternates
- SIGMET/AIRMET information for the route of flight
VOLMET Service
Damascus VOLMET is broadcast on 128.400 MHz providing current METAR reports for OSDI, OSAP, OSLK, and regional airports. Broadcasts repeat on a 5-minute cycle.
Meteorological Watch Office (MWO)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| MWO Name | Damascus MWO |
| Location | Damascus International Airport (OSDI) |
| ICAO Designator | OSDI |
| Operating Hours | H24 |
| Responsibility | SIGMET, AIRMET, aerodrome warnings, wind shear warnings for Damascus FIR |
ATIS / Automated Weather Services
- ATIS: Not currently available. Aerodrome weather information is provided via ATC voice on TWR/APP frequencies
- AWOS: Not installed. Manual surface observations are performed by MET observers at OSDI, OSAP, OSLK
MET Watch and Warnings
- The Damascus MWO maintains continuous MET watch for the Damascus FIR (OSTT)
- SIGMET advisories are issued for: thunderstorms (TS), severe turbulence (SEV TURB), severe icing (SEV ICE), mountain waves (MTW), volcanic ash (VA), sandstorms/dust storms (SS/DS)
- Aerodrome warnings are issued for: wind shear at low levels, thunderstorm activity near aerodrome, visibility below 800m, crosswind exceeding limits
Altimeter setting information
See ENR 1.7 and the applicable aerodrome AD 2.17 for transition altitude and altimeter-setting procedures.
MET Observation Stations
| Station | ICAO | METAR | TAF | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damascus | OSDI | Yes | Yes | H24 |
| Aleppo | OSAP | Yes | Yes | H24 |
| Lattakia | OSLK | Yes | Yes | H24 |
| Deir ez-Zor | OSDZ | Yes | No | By arrangement |
| Kamishly | OSKL | Yes | No | Seasonal |
SIGMET Issuance
SIGMET advisories for the Damascus FIR are issued by the Damascus Meteorological Watch Office (MWO) at OSDI. The MWO operates H24 and monitors for significant meteorological phenomena including thunderstorms, turbulence, icing, mountain waves, volcanic ash, and sandstorms.