New PIREPS entry method and a bit of background info

[NWS Lubbock - Joe]

Hi all, This message (below) arrived in my inbox today (The 47th anniversary of the 1970 Lubbock Tornado) and many of you may have directly received it from the FAA as well.  There are a few tidbits of additional information that I'd like to pass along about PIREPS as well as some challenges with these that most of you are probably not aware. First off, PIREPS are exceptionally valuable to other pilots and meteorologists as they provide data, in 3d space, which outline one or more characteristics of the atmosphere.  They provide insight to what is going on above the surface....an area in which we have the least amount of data...but is the most important for short term forecasting.  Too, what pilot wouldn't want to know if the route of flight at a given altitude was bumpy or not, below freezing, etc?  Personally, I had always been disappointed with the number of PIREPS available when planning my flight.  It was not until I became aviation program manager did I start to understand why this was the case.  The PIREP tool in the FAA's notice below is the equivalent of social media for flight conditions whereby information can be shared.  Through the collaborative efforts of all, more informed flight decisions can be made.   The bottom line is: The more info you can provide, the more useful the PIREP becomes.  But, there are some things to know as I'll discuss. Please consider, in addition to the Turbulence/Icing observations you make, adding flight level temperature and observed winds aloft (if your cockpit instrumentation provides it) along with the altitude to the nearest 500'.  All data are useful even if flying in clear environments as this can help us compare with various computer models to ascertain which may be handling conditions above the surface most effectively.  Here in West Texas, we have scant little data about what's REALLY going on aloft with the exception of the 12 hour balloons from Amarillo and Midland and a couple of airline flights per day with AMDAR observations.  These AMDAR observations tend to be only useful for areas within 30NM of KLBB.  Details about the FAA's policy on PIREPs is available at https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/ATC.pdf in Section 2-6-3.  The FAA notice below now provides insight for a way for pilots to directly enter PIREP data which a great opportunity to submit AND obtain more data.  What makes it great?  Unfortunately, there are many FAA facilities that have been observed to simply NOT pass along PIREP information beyond the local facility unless they meet a set of criteria (for example, Moderate or greater turb or any icing.)  Controllers are generally encouraged to enter along PIREP information on a workload permitting basis though, via observation experience, this rarely happens with TRACON facilities.  ARTCCs in rural areas are marginally better.   Your observations can have significant influence on days with weather-impact potential even if a hour or so after your flight.  Too, multiple reports, as you travel cross-country, are of value.  While such frequencies of reporting are challenging, making an observation every 30 minutes, with the new automated method below,  would be a great asset.  Still, any report, even after you land, can provide value to a great number of fellow aviators.  Just try to get the position (within 10NM), altitude (within 500'), and time of observation (minute) as close as possible.  Reports of smooth rides are just as useful as those which are rough.  Maybe right after you close your flight plan, file a PIREP :) The point I want to really stress is: if the PIREP doesn't get entered into the system, other pilots in the flight planning stages do not see them nor does the NWS have them available for input into forecasts. So, you're asking, "The FAA encourages PIREPS, yet they don't pass them along?"  Absolutely--different branches of the FAA with different goals.  Flight standards and FAA Safety have differing objectives/priorities than does Air Traffic Services.  This assertion is made not by official documentation and policy, but rather years of "pattern matching."  After all, if it look, quacks, etc. like a duck... So, if you would like to contribute a PIREP and contributing to the solution, if time allows, please consider signing up and doing it via the links provided in the FAA notice.   Of course, if you have any questions about this or any aspect of aviation weather, just write me and I'll be happy to assist in any way that I can.  This includes validation if your report made it into the system. Happy flying, Joe Jurecka Aviation Program Manager National Weather Service Lubbock, TX joe.j...@noaa.gov FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education

Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPs) Notice Number: NOTC7155 So, what is a PIREP anyway, I mean really? A pilot report or PIREP is a pilot’s report of actual weather conditions encountered while airborne. Typically, pilots file a report to ATC or Flight Service when the weather conditions are not the same as the forecast, or when the conditions are actually worse than the forecast. Low visibility, turbulence, icing, and thunderstorms are good examples of actual weather conditions that may not be in the forecast but may be conditions a pilot experiences during flight. What pilots don’t often realize is that a PIREP should also be filed when the weather is better-than-forecast. A PIREP filed to report good weather is just as important as a PIREP filed to report bad weather. The main purpose of a PIREP is Safety! PIREPs help weather forecasters update their data, and improve the quality and accuracy of a weather forecast. These reports also assist pilots, dispatchers, and flight planners to develop a mitigation strategy for possible weather hazards encountered during a flight. The FAA has a new, electronic PIREP submission tool at the National Weather Service’s Aviation Weather Center Digital Data Service (ADDS) website. Registered users can electronically submit turbulence and icing PIREPs on the site, which are instantly displayed in graphical form and distributed nationwide. Visit https://www.aviationweather.gov/user/register to register on the Aviation Weather Center site. For more information, see INFO 14011 – Electronic Submission of Pilot Weather Reports (PIREP).   You can also submit PIREPs, as usual, by radio call to the ground facility for your established communications (i.e., FSS, ARTCC, or terminal ATC). If you are unable to submit a PIREP inflight, you can also call the nearest FSS or Weather Forecast Office upon landing. Use the form linkedhere to help with formatting your report.   One important thing to keep in mind: Although the PIREP should be as complete and concise as possible, pilots should not be overly concerned with strict format or phraseology. The important thing is to relay the information so that other pilots can benefit from your observation.   Are PIREP reports required by regulation? No. However, it is every pilot’s responsibility to file PIREPs, even if there isn’t a specific regulatory requirement to do so. As noted in 14 CFR section 91.183(b), the pilot in command of each aircraft operated under IFR in controlled airspace must report any unforecast weather conditions encountered as soon as possible. VFR pilots may feel that PIREPs are not important since they can see the weather, but it’s every pilot’s responsibility to file PIREPs even if there isn’t a specific regulatory requirement to do so. Filing PIREPs improves safety for everyone in our National Airspace System (NAS). Remember — the PIREP you file could save the life of a fellow aviator! Free PIREP training is available on FAASafety.gov. Look for the Air Safety Institute’s SkySpotter “PIREPs Made Easy” course (FAASafety.gov course ALC-96). After registration and completion of the course, you will receive WINGS credit that you can use to complete your Flight Review. PIREPs are each and every pilot’s responsibility, so spread the word!   Additional Helpful Links Aviation Weather Center ADDS Aircraft Reports https://www.aviationweather.gov/airep Operational Implementation of AWC Online PIREP Submission Form http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/scn16-31pirep.htm Inflight Electronic PIREP Submission (1800WXBRIEF) https://www.1800wxbrief.com/Website/#!/inflight-pireps-submission Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) Chapter 7-1-19, Pilot Weather Reports https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/media/aim.pdf  “Pipe Up With PIREPs” FAA Safety Briefing magazine, May/June 2008 www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/2008/media/mayjun2008.pdf   This notice is being sent to you because you selected "General Information" in your preferences on FAASafety.gov. If you wish to adjust your selections, log into https://www.faasafety.gov/Users/pub/preferences.aspx where you can update your preferences.

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