METWSG/2-SN No.

9
2/3/09

METEOROLOGICAL WARNINGS STUDY GROUP (METWSG)

SECOND MEETING

Montréal, 19 to 21 May 2009

Agenda Item 6: Wind shear and turbulence warnings

6.1: Low-level wind shear detection along the approach/take-off
paths

STANDARD ATC PHRASEOLOGY

FOR PROVISION OF WIND SHEAR ALERT INFORMATION TO AIRCRAFT

(Presented by C.M. Shun and Steve Albersheim)

SUMMARY
This paper presents a proposal for the standard phraseology to be used by air traffic
control (ATC) units for the provision of wind shear alert information to aircraft in
approach, take-off or climb-out area.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The METWSG/1 held in Montreal, 20-22 November 2007 tasked CM Shun and
Steve Albersheim to prepare a proposal for standard phraseology to be used by ATC units for the
provision of wind shear alert information to aircraft in approach, take-off or climb-out area. In view of
the editorial policy of PANS-ATM (Doc 4444), the proposal should consist of no more than 2 or 3 key
standard phraseologies. This paper presents the proposal.

2. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

2.1 Firstly, considering the Human Factors principles, the standard wind shear alert
phraseology should be concise for effective and unambiguous communications between ATC and the
flight crew, minimizing the need for interpretation. Secondly, the proposed phraseology should be
generic enough for use at airports worldwide. Thirdly, the ICAO Abbreviations and Codes in PANS-ABC
(Doc 8400) should be used as far as possible for standardization.

(5 pages)
515377123.doc
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2.2 Developed by the US Federal Aviation Administration and adopted by many airports
worldwide, two categories of wind shear alert information are provided by automated, ground-based,
wind shear remote-sensing or detection equipment to ATC for relay to the flight crew: (a)
MICROBURST; and (b) WIND SHEAR. This is in line with Appendix 6 to Annex 3 para. 6.2.6.

2.3 Appendix 6 to Annex 3 para. 6.2.7 specifies that “Where information from ground-based,
wind shear detection or remote-sensing equipment is used to prepare a wind shear alert, the alert shall, if
practicable, relate to specific sections of the runway and distances along the approach path or take-off
path as agreed between the meteorological authority, the appropriate ATS authority and the operators
concerned”. At the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), in consultation with IFALPA, an
agreement was established between the meteorological authority, ATS authority, and the operators
concerned that the wind shear alert information to be relayed by ATC to the flight crew would not relate
to specific distances along the approach path or take-off path. This is to avoid possible misinterpretation
of the alert information generated by the wind shear detection system based on the “First Encounter –
Maximum Intensity” principle. Where multiple wind shear events are detected on the same runway
corridor (e.g. “+20kt at 3 mile” together with “-45kt at 1 mile”), the wind shear alert information given
based on this principle would be “-45kt at 3 mile”, which could mislead the flight crew to think that the
alert was an over-warning when only +20kt shear was encountered at 3 mile. To avoid such possible
misinterpretation, instead of mentioning the specific distances along the approach path or take-off path,
only FINAL APPROACH or DEPARTURE is mentioned in the ATC phraseology at HKIA. Thus the
inclusion of such location information in the wind shear phraseology is recommended to be optional.

2.4 As for the microburst alert, while magnitude is currently given in the ATC phraseology at
HKIA, upon consulting the wind shear user group in Hong Kong, China, it is considered that information
on the sign and magnitude of the microburst is not strictly necessary as the phraseology
“MICROBURST” already provides sufficient alert information to the pilot for necessary action and
avoidance. It is therefore proposed that the sign and magnitude information may be omitted in the
phraseology for microburst.

2.5 There are also other subtle differences in the wind shear alert phraseology currently used
by ATC in Hong Kong and the US. They include the use of “MINUS”/”PLUS” versus “LOSS”/”GAIN”
in the shear magnitude information, mentioning of the runway information or not, and the use of
“CAUTION” versus “ALERT”. Examples are:

Wind Shear Alert Presented to ATC ATC Phraseology for Relay to Flight Crew

07LA MBA -30K APP CAUTION MICROBURST MINUS 30 KT ON

(Hong Kong) FINAL APPROACH

07RD WSA +25K DEP CAUTION WIND SHEAR PLUS 25 KT ON

(Hong Kong) DEPARTURE

25LA WSA -20K RWY CAUTION WIND SHEAR MINUS 20 KNOTS ON

(Hong Kong) THE RUNWAY

27A MBA 30K- 3MF RUNWAY 27 ARRIVAL, MICROBURST ALERT,

(USA) 30 KT LOSS 3 MILE FINAL

27D WSA 25K+ 2MD RUNWAY 27 DEPARTURE, WIND SHEAR

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(USA) ALERT, 25 KT GAIN 2 MILE DEPARTURE

09A WSA 20K- RWY RUNWAY 09 ARRIVAL, WIND SHEAR ALERT,

(USA) 20 KT LOSS ON RUNWAY

The ATC in Hong Kong prefers the use of “MINUS”/”PLUS” as the controller could read out the “-”/“+”
sign of the wind shear directly from the alert message without any interpretation. In case of
“LOSS”/”GAIN” as given in the USA, the “-” is interpreted as “LOSS” and “+” is interpreted as “GAIN”.
Both “MINUS”/“PLUS” and “LOSS”/“GAIN” are considered equivalent and either one should be given
in the phraseology. Following the current convention, “MINUS”/”PLUS” should come before the shear
magnitude while “LOSS”/”GAIN” should come after the shear magnitude.

2.6 Regarding the runway information, for conciseness, this information is not mentioned by
the Hong Kong ATC as part of the wind shear phraseology since at any one time, there is only one
operational runway in use at HKIA. Inclusion of the runway information is proposed to be optional.

2.7 As regards the use of “CAUTION” versus “ALERT”, it is noted that both “CAUTION”
and “ALERT” are being used in Doc 4444, e.g. “CAUTION WAKE TURBULENCE” and “TERRAIN
ALERT”. The ATC in Hong Kong, China adopted “CAUTION” at the beginning of the wind shear alert
phraseology to ensure that the attention of the pilot is immediately drawn to the presence of wind shear.
Moreover, “ALERT” may be considered too strong and “CAUTION” is suggested to be more appropriate
for wind shear based on pilots’ views. In any case, it is proposed that either “CAUTION” and “ALERT”
could be used in the proposed phraseology.

3. PROPOSED STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY

3.1 Table 12.3.1.7 of Doc 4444 outlines the currently adopted phraseology for
Meteorological Conditions and appears to be an appropriate place to include the proposed wind shear
alert phraseology. Based on the above discussions, and noting that optional phrases may be used (para.
12.2.9 of Doc 4444), the group may wish to agree with the following action:

Action agreed 2/ — Standard ATC Phraseology for the

Provision of Wind Shear Alert Information

That,

a) Table 12.3.1.7 of Doc 4444 be extended

to include the wind shear phraseology as
follows:
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12.3.1.7 METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS a) …

…
… for alerting p) [CAUTION] [RUNWAY (number)]
approach or MICROBURST [ALERT] [MINUS (or PLUS)]
departure aircraft to [(number) KNOTS (or KILOMETRES PER
microburst HOUR)] [LOSS (or GAIN)] [(number) MILE]
[ON] [FINAL] [APPROACH (or DEPATURE)]
[RUNWAY]

Note 1. Either [CAUTION] or [ALERT] should be used.

Note 2. Either
[(number) MILE][FINAL (or DEPARTURE)]
[ON RUNWAY]
or
[ON][FINAL APPROACH (or DEPARTURE)]
[RUNWAY]
should be used

Note 3. Either [MINUS (or PLUS)] or [LOSS (or GAIN)]

should be used for the sign of the microburst
magnitude.

… for alerting q) [CAUTION] [RUNWAY (number)] WIND

approach or SHEAR [ALERT] [MINUS (or PLUS)] (number)
departure aircraft to KNOTS (or KILOMETRES PER HOUR)
significant wind [LOSS (or GAIN)] [(number) MILE] [ON]
shear [FINAL] [APPROACH (or DEPATURE)]
[RUNWAY]

Note 1. Either [CAUTION] or [ALERT] should be used.

Note 2. Either
[(number) MILE][FINAL (or DEPARTURE)]
[ON RUNWAY]
or
[ON][FINAL APPROACH (or DEPARTURE)]
[RUNWAY]
should be used

Note 3. Either [MINUS (or PLUS)] or [LOSS (or GAIN)]

should be used for the sign of the wind shear
magnitude.

b) Para. 11.4.3.2.3 of Doc 4444 be amended to include specific reference to wind

shear.
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4. ACTION BY THE MEETING

4.1 The METWSG is invited to:

a) note the information in this paper; and

b) decide on the draft action proposed for the group’s consideration.

— END —