Muscat: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has alerted amateur weather forecasters and social media users against publishing inaccurate and fake forecasts and warnings related to weather conditions that affect the Sultanate of Oman.
The statement said, “The Civil Aviation Authority has monitored that a number of media and personal accounts publish forecasts and warnings during weather conditions that affect the Sultanate of Oman, contrary to what is issued by the Omani Meteorology at the Civil Aviation Authority, through various social websites.”
It explained “ this leads to confusion for official bodies and individuals as a result of the spread of rumours and intimidation or the broadcasting of statements other than the truth, which is a violation of the prohibition imposed by the Civil Aviation Law on these acts”.
The Authority cautions that it will not tolerate taking legal measures to implement all the penalties stipulated by law to address these violations in coordination with the concerned government agencies. Article 30, Chapter Six: Approvals, Civil Aviation Law states: “It is prohibited to exercise civil aviation activities, air navigation services and forecasts without the approval of the competent authority.”
Article 13, Chapter Thirteen: Penalties, stipulates: “Anyone who violates the provision of Article 30 shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of no less than one year and not exceeding 3 years, and a fine not less than RO 15,000, and not exceeding RO 50,000, or one of these two penalties.”
