About CAMD
Central Aviation Meteorological Division (CAMD) at DGM, New Delhi is the nodal office for the aviation services in the country. It also maintains the liaison with ICAO, WMO, DGCA, AAI and Airlines on technical aspects of aviation. The installation and maintenance of Airport Meteorological Instruments are done by IMD (SI Division), Pune. The telecommunications requirements for aviation are managed by the IMD (Telecommunication Division) functioning at New Delhi and by the telecommunication unit of Airport Authority of India.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the national agency which is responsible in all matters related to provision of MET support to aviation in India. The principal requirements in the aviation point of view are:
- Supply of current weather observations to all aeronautical users
- Issue of forecast and warnings on meteorological hazards to aviation
- Adherence to procedures and formats for dissemination of products to aviators
Aerodrome Meteorological Offices functioning at Mumbai , Kolkata , Delhi and Chennai airports also serve as Meteorological Watch Offices (MWOs) catering to flights in respective Flight Information Regions (FIR). These services are provided through 17 Aerodrome Meteorological Offices (AMO) and 72 Aeronautical Meteorological Stations (AMS) located at various national and international airports of the country.
Service
Observation, Forecast & Warnings
METAR or SPECI
METAR and SPECI are weather reports encoded from the airport weather observations. METAR is the name of the code for an aviation routine weather report. A METAR is issued at half- hourly intervals in India. SPECI is the name of the code for an aviation special weather report. A SPECI can be issued at any time when certain criteria are met. Both METAR and SPECI have the same code form and both may have a TREND forecast appended.
TAF
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) is a concise statement of the expected meteorological conditions at an aerodrome for a specified period. TAF is being issued by all Aerodrome meteorological offices in India for their own aerodromes and their associated Aeronautical Meteorological Stations. TAF of 30 hr are issued for the purpose of international flights and 9 hr TAF is issued for serving the domestic flights.
TREND Forecast
Landing forecasts issued in India as a routine are called TREND forecast. These forecasts are intended to meet the requirements of local users and of aircraft within about one hour’s flying time from the aerodrome. All Aerodrome Meteorological Offices (with forecasting facility) issue TREND forecasts during the forecast watch hours. The period of validity of a TREND forecast shall be 2 hours from the time of the report, which forms part of the landing forecast.
Aerodrome Warning/Wind Shear Warning
Aerodrome warnings issued when a weather phenomenon that may adversely affect aircraft on the ground, including parked aricraft, aerodrome facilities and services is observed or predicted. Wind shear which could adversely affect aircraft on the approach path or takeoff path or during circling approach between runway level and 500 m (1600 ft) above that level and aircraft on the runway during the landing roll or take-off run.
Area/Local Forecast
These are issued for the use of low-level flights including helicopters. Both Local and Area forecasts are issued in the same template. Both are valid over the aerodrome and 100 NM around. Local and Area forecasts are issued three times a day valid for next 8 hrs, where ATC watch is maintained for 24 hrs.
SIGMET
SIGnificant METeorological information (SIGMET) Issued when specified en-route weather phenomena that may affect the safety of aircraft operation in the flight information region(FIR) is observed or predicted-Thunder and lightning, Typhoon, warm currents, ice, etc.