C.3.1–App.

1–14 TECHNICAL REGULATIONS – VOLUME II – METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL AIR NAVIGATION

SHEET OF NOTATIONS USED IN FLIGHT DOCUMENTATION MODEL SN

1. Symbols for significant weather 3. Abbreviations used to describe clouds

Tropical cyclone Drizzle 3.1 Type

Severe squall line* Rain CI = Cirrus AS = Altostratus ST = Stratus

CC = Cirrocumulus NS = Nimbostratus CU = Cumulus
Moderate turbulence Snow CS = Cirrostratus SC = Stratocumulus CB = Cumulonimbus
AC = Altocumulus
Severe turbulence Shower Hail
Mountain waves Widespread blowing snow 3.2 Amount
Clouds except CB
Moderate aircraft icing Severe sand or dust haze
Widespread sandstorm FEW = few (1/8 to 2/8) BKN = broken (5/8 to 7/8)
Severe aircraft icing SCT = scattered (3/8 to 4/8) OVC = overcast (8/8)
or duststorm
Widespread fog Widespread haze CB only

Radioactive materials in ISOL = individual CBs (isolated)

Widespread mist OCNL = well-separated CBs (occasional)
the atmosphere**
FRQ = CBs with little or no separation (frequent)
Volcanic eruption*** Widespread smoke EMBD = CBs embedded in layers of other clouds or concealed by haze (embedded)

Mountain obscuration Freezing precipitation**** 3.3 Heights

* In-flight documentation for flights operating up to FL 100. This symbol refers to Heights are indicated on SWH and SWM charts in flight levels (FL), top over base. When
“squall line”. XXX is used, tops or bases are outside the layer of the atmosphere to which the chart
** The following information should be included at the side of the chart: radioactive applies.
materials symbol; latitude/longitude of accident site; date and time of accident; check In SWL charts:
NOTAM for further information. (a) Heights are indicated as altitudes above mean sea level;
(b) The abbreviation SFC is used to indicate ground level.
*** The following information should be included at the side of the chart: volcanic
eruption symbol; name and international number of volcano (if known); latitude/ 4. Depicting of lines and systems on specific charts
longitude; date and time of the first eruption (if known); check SIGMETs and
NOTAM or ASHTAM for volcanic ash.
4.1 Models SWH and SWM – Significant weather charts (high and medium)
**** This symbol does not refer to icing due to precipitation coming into contact with an
aircraft which is at a very low temperature. Scalloped line = demarcation of areas of significant weather
Note: Height indications between which phenomena are expected, top above base as per Heavy broken line = delineation of area of CAT
chart legend. Heavy solid line = position of jet stream axis with indication of wind direction,
interrupted by wind speed in kt or m/s and height in flight levels. The vertical
arrow and flight level extent of the jet stream is indicated (in flight levels), e.g.
2. Fronts and convergence zones and other symbols used FL 270 accompanied by 240/290 indicates that the jet
extends from FL 240 to FL 290.
Position, speed and level Flight levels inside = speed in kt or km/h of movements of frontal system
Cold front at the surface small rectangles = height in flight levels of tropopause at spot locations, e.g.
of maximum wind
340 . Low and high points of the tropopause topography
Warm front at the surface Convergence line are indicated by the letters L or H, respectively, inside a
pentagon with the height in flight levels. Display explicit FL
Occluded front at the surface Freezing level for jet depths and tropopause height even if outside forecast
bounds.
Quasi-stationary front at Intertropical concergence
the surface zone 4.2 Model SWL – Significant weather chart (low level)
Tropopause high State of the sea X = position of pressure centres given in hectopascals
L = centre of low pressure
Tropopause low Sea-surface temperature H = centre of high pressure
Scalloped lines = demarcation of area of significant weather
Widespread strong Dashed lines = altitude of 0°C isotherm in feet (hectofeet) or metres
Tropopause level Note: 0°C level may also be indicated by 0°:060 , i.e. 0°C level
surface wind* is at an altitude of 6000 ft.
Figures on arrows = speed in kt or km/h of movement of frontal systems,
depressions or anticyclones
Figure inside the state = total wave height in feet or metres
of the sea symbol
Figure inside the sea- = sea-surface temperature in °C
Wind arrows indicate the maximum wind in jet and the flight level at which it occurs. If surface temperature
the maximum wind speed is 60 m/s (120 kt) or more, the flight levels between which Figures inside the strong = wind in kt or m/s
winds are greater than 40 m/s (80 kt) is placed below the maximum wind level. In the surface wind symbol
example, winds are greater than 40 m/s (80 kt) between FL 220 and FL 400.
The heavy line delineating the jet axis begins/ends at the points where a wind speed of 4.3 Arrows, feathers and pennants
40 m/s (80 kt) is forecast. Arrows indicate direction. Number of pennants and/or feathers correspond to speed.
Example: 270°/115 kt (equivalent to 57.5 m/s)
Symbol used whenever the height of the jet axis changes by +/–3000 ft or the speed Pennants correspond to 50 kt or 25 m/s
changes by +/–20 kt Feathers correspond to 10 kt or 5 m/s
Half-feathers correspond to 5 kt or 2.5 m/s
* This symbol refers to widespread surface wind speeds exceeding 15 m/s (30 kt).
* A conversion factor of 1 to 2 is used.