GEN 3.5.1 Responsible service

The Meteorological Services at Kigali International Airport are provided by:

Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA)
Kigali International Airport
Kigali- Rwanda
Tel 1: +250 -72412 3155
Tel 2: +250 -78520 1106 Tel 3: +250 -792402917
E-mail: kiamet@asecna.org, aero_meteo@yahoo.com
AFS: HRYRYMYX

The service is provided in accordance with the provisions contained in Rwanda Civil Aviation Regulations (RCARs), Part 24 and Rwanda Civil Aviation Technical Standards (RCATS-MET) and the following ICAO documents:

ANNEX 3: “Meteorological Services for International Air Navigation”.

Doc 8896: Manual of Aeronautical Meteorological Practice

Doc 7030: “Regional Supplementary Procedures”

Any difference to these provisions shall be detailed in subsection GEN 1.7.

GEN 3.5.2 Area of responsibility

Aeronautical Meteorology service is provided within the Kigali FIR.

GEN 3.5.3 Meteorological observation and reports

Table GEN 3.5.3 Meteorological observations and reports

Name of Station Location Indicator	Type & frequency of observation / automatic observing equipment	Type of MET reports & availability of trend forecast	Observation system & site(s)	Hours of Operation	Climatological Information
1	2	3	4	5	6
KIGALI Kigali Int'l Airport HRYR	Semi-Hourly plus special observations Wind direction and speed at 10 m above ground level AWOS, Automatic Wind-shear warnings SADIS ftp Doppler Weather Radar, D-ATIS, AMSS, Lightening detector.	METAR, SPECI, MET Report, Special Report, TAF, SYNOP Plain language, Take-off data forecast Low level Significant weather charts (SIGWX). Supplementary: Trend forecast Wind-shear warnings	AWOS available at RWY 28 and RWY10 Surface wind Cup anemometer (see AD chart) RVR FS11P: Available at RWY28 and mid runway. Airport ceilometer available Thermometer.	H24	Climatological tables available
KAMEMBE Airport HRZA	Semi-Hourly plus special observations Wind direction and speed at 10 m above ground level AWOS	METAR, SPECI, MET Report, Special Report, TAF. Supplementary: Trend forecast, SYNOP Plain language	AWOS available at RWY 20 and RWY 02 Surface wind Cup anemometer 30 m right RWY20, next to aircraft parking and TWR. RVR/FS11P: Available at RWY20 and mid runway. Airport ceilometer available	H12	Climatological tables available
GISENYI Gisenyi HRYG	Hourly plus special observations Wind direction and speed at 10 m above ground level	METAR, SPECI, MET Report, Special Report, SYNOP. Plain language	Cup anemometer	H12	Climatological tables available
RUHENGERI Ruhengeri HRYU	Hourly plus special observations Wind direction and speed at 10 m above ground level	METAR, SPECI, Special Report, SYNOP Plain language	Cup anemometer	H12	Climatological tables available
BUTARE Butare HRYI	AWS Wind direction and speed at 10 m above ground level	-	Cup anemometer	H12	NIL

GEN 3.5.4 Types of service

Personal briefing and consultation for flight crew members is provided only at KIGALI International. For some other aerodromes, consultation is available by dialing the following telephone number:

HRYR Meteorological Office
Tel: +250-724123155/785201106

1. Pre-flight Information

Limited flight documentation is normally provided for domestic flights. For international flights, the flight documentation comprises a significant weather chart, an upper wind and upper air temperature chart and the latest available aerodrome forecast for the destination and its alternate aerodromes.

Meteorological information to aircraft in flight is passed through the appropriate ATS unit whenever they are requested.

2. Meteorological Procedures for International Air Navigation.

The meteorological service of International Air Navigation is conducted in conformity with the Rwanda Civil Aviation Regulations (RCARs) Part 24, Rwanda Civil Aviation Technical Standards, (RCATS) and the procedures as contained in the following ICAO documents as amended from time to time.

a) Annex 3: Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation

b) DOC 7030: Regional Supplementary Procedures

3. Advance Operational Planning

Requests for meteorological information required for planning new routes and schedules or other major questions effecting future of air navigation operations or policy should, in all cases, be addressed to the appropriate authority.

4. Complaints or comments on the meteorological service

All users of the meteorological services for air navigation should submit, promptly to the appropriate authority any complaints or comments on the service.

Aircrew should realize, however, that complaints can be investigated only if accompanied by full details of the flight, the forecast and/or other information issued and the respects in which the forecast and other information has been provided inaccurate.

For domestic flights, the MET information may be exchanged depending on the point-to-point communication availability. For international flights, the flight documentation comprises a significant weather chart, an upper wind and upper air temperature chart and the latest available aerodrome forecast for the destination and its alternate aerodromes.

GEN 3.5.5 Notification Required from Operators

Notification from operators in respect to briefing, consultation, flight documentation and other meteorological information needed as per ICAO Annex 3, Chapter 2.3 shall be communicated to Meteorological Office, Kigali International airport at least two hours prior to flight.

GEN 3.5.6 Aircraft Reports

Special aircraft observation shall be made and reported to ATC unit whenever the following conditions are encountered;

a) Moderate or Severe turbulence;
b) Obscured/embedded thunderstorms, with or without hail,
c) Volcanic ash cloud
d) Pre-eruption activity or a volcanic eruption
e) Windshear during climb out or approach phases

GEN 3.5.7 VOLMET Services

Nil

GEN 3.5.8 SIGMET and AIRMET service

Table GEN 3.5.8 SIGMET and AIRMET service

Name of MWO/ location indicators	Hours	FIR or CTA served	Validity	Specific SIGMET procedures	AIRMET procedures	ATS unit served	Additional information
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
KIGALI	H24	KIGALI FIR	SIGMET /4 HR	SIGMET : WS	NIL	Kigali ACC and APP	NIL
KIGALI	H24	KIGALI FIR	SIGMET / 6 HR	SIGMET : WV	NIL	Kigali ACC and APP	NIL

1. SIGMET and Aerodrome Warning Services

For the safety of aircraft operations, the Meteorological watch office (MWO) at Kigali International airport maintains continuous watch over meteorological conditions affecting flight operations within KIGALI FIR. As such, the MWO prepares and supplies SIGMET information to its associated ATS units and other Meteorological watch offices when certain meteorological and other phenomena occur or are expected to occur, including volcanic ash clouds.

If the MWO receives information on pre-eruption volcanic activity, a volcanic eruption or a volcanic ash cloud for which a SIGMET has not already been issued, the MWO supplies this information to its associated ACC and VAAC.

The SIGMETs are issued in abbreviated plain language using ICAO abbreviations. Their period of validity is generally not more than 4 hours for SIGMET for weather phenomena other than Volcanic Ash and 6 hours for SIGMET of VA.

The aerodrome MWO also provides aerodrome warnings for Kigali International Airport. This service provides information on meteorological conditions, which could adversely affect aircraft on the ground, including parked aircraft and aerodrome facilities and services.

GEN 3.5.9 Other automated meteorological service

Table GEN 3.5.9 Other automated meteorological services

Service name	Information available	Area, route and aerodrome coverage	Telephone, telefax numbers, e-mail and website remarks
1	2	3	4
Aeronautical Meteorology Service Kigali International Airport	METAR/SPECI including Trend forecast for Aerodromes of departure and intended landing, for take-off, en-route and destination alternate aerodrome. TAF or amended TAF for Aerodromes of departure and intended landing, for take-off, en-route and destination alternate aerodrome. SIGMET information and Special air reports relevant to the whole routes. - Aerodrome warnings - Volcanic Ash information. - Significant weather charts (SIGWX). - Forecast of: - Upper wind and upper air temperature - Geopotential altitude of flight levels - Flight level and temperature of Tropopause - Wind direction, speed and flight level of maximum	All en-routes	TEL : +250-724123155 +250-785201106 AFS : HRYRYMYX

Meteorological products: Meteorological Flight folder including charts at different flight levels available.

GEN 3.5 METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES