Service Name

En-route Winter Weather information service and Aerodrome winter weather & de-icing information service(s)

Service Abstract

Winter weather information service provides a forecast for the potential impact of winter weather conditions on air traffic. Aerodrome de-icing information service provides a nowcast-type forecast of aircraft de-icing needs before takeoff.

Common Service Definition

There is no service definition required for this, as it only provided by FMI.

Service Implementation Status

The service description(s) is (are) published on the SWIM Registry.

Service Information

Winter weather information service is comprised of a set of products designed to provide forecast information about the potential impact of winter weather conditions on aircraft at ground level, while Aerodrome de-icing information service is especially related to icing and need for de-icing for general aviation and helicopters.

There are several variations of these services available:

• The Winter Weather Hazards service is comprised of a set of products designed to provide forecast information about the potential impact of winter weather conditions on aircraft at ground level which include Winter Weather Indices and Winter Weather Precipitation Type.

• The Winter Weather Index services provide probabilistic forecasts based on precipitation type, intensity, and visibility to give the risk of icing conditions at ground level, using the severity levels of icing: light, moderate and heavy. The products are specifically tailored to take in to account the aircraft type, with separate outputs to differentiate between the icing risk for aircraft fitted with de-icing systems and the risk for (typically smaller) general aviation aircraft and helicopters. This approach caters for the more sensitive nature of smaller aircraft and rotorcraft to icing conditions. The output is available at any desired point location within the European domain to T+3 hours in 15 minute timesteps. In addition, the output is available over a geographical area within Europe, out to 10 days, in 30 minute timesteps, updated twice daily.

• Winter Weather Precipitation Type is an ensemble forecast of precipitation types over the European domain at surface level. It does not only give the probability of precipitation, but also gives the probability of the type of the precipitation. The product consists of a set of six precipitation type forecasts and validity times out to T+120 hours, in three hourly timesteps and updates twice a day. The precipitation type is classified in to six categories: snow, sleet, rain, drizzle, freezing drizzle and freezing rain. The probability of precipitation is expressed as a percentage. The products are available in gridded dataset format (GRIB2) and if desired, at point locations. These datasets are currently available on request from FMI, please see sections 3.5 and 3.6 for further information on how to access these services.

Service Provision

Service Provider Organization

FMI is the designated aeronautical meteorological service provider for Helsinki FIR as designated by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Finland and as certified by Finnish Transport and Communications Agency.

Data Origination

The inputs to the creation of these information services are post-processed information from ECMWF data and European radar network (OPERA) information.

Provision Architecture

It is post-processed information from ECMWF input data and it is intended to air traffic planner, airport maintenance, air traffic control, airlines and pilots to help and prepare for Winter weather conditions. The forecast has 3 classes for severity of icing: light, moderate and heavy.

Service Consumption

Service Consumer Organization

It is intended to be used by to prepare for actions in Winter weather conditions by:

• airlines and their flight planning services

  • situational awareness of inflight hazards associated with wintry weather

  • Planning departures in wintry conditions

• Airports including their support services/contractors

  • Support and planning for De-icing operations, both of aircraft and runway/taxiway

  • Personnel rostering/staffing decisions for anticipated high workload periods

  • ACDM functions

• Designated Aerodrome Meteorological Offices and MET Watch Offices

  • In the productions process of associated aerodrome warnings and forecasts

  • In the production of associated SIGMETS