GEN 3.4 — 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
Transition Altitude / Transition Level
Per AIP ENR 1.7 — Altimeter Setting Procedures:
| Aerodrome | Transition Altitude (TA) | Transition Level (TL) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSDI Damascus | 8000 ft | Variable (ATC) | Published in AD 2.1 |
| OSAP Aleppo | 8000 ft | Variable (ATC) | Published in AD 2.2 |
| OSLK Lattakia | 6500 ft | Variable (ATC) | Published in AD 2.3 |
| OSDZ Deir ez-Zor | 5000 ft | Variable (ATC) | Published in AD 2.4 |
| OSKL Kamishly | 5000 ft | Variable (ATC) | Published in AD 2.5 |
The standard pressure setting of 1013.2 hPa shall be set by all aircraft when climbing through the Transition Altitude. Transition Level is variable, determined by ATS unit based on prevailing QNH.