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{{Short description|Firsthand aeronautical condition report}}
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A '''pilot report''' or '''PIREP''' is a report of actual flight or ground conditions encountered by an [[aircraft]]. Reports commonly include information about atmospheric conditions (like [[temperature]], [[icing conditions|icing]], [[turbulence]]) or airport conditions (like [[runway condition code]]s or ground equipment failures). This information is usually relayed by [[radio]] to the nearest ground station, but other options (e.g. electronic submission) also exist in some regions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2014/July/28/Historic-pilot-report-to-be-made-on-way-to-Oshkosh |title=Historic pilot report made on way to Oshkosh |first=Alton K. |last=Marsh |publisher=[[AOPA]] |date=2014-07-28 |access-date=2015-01-24}}</ref> The message would then be encoded and relayed to other weather offices and air traffic service units.
Although the actual form used to record the PIREP may differ from one country to another, the standards and criteria will remain almost the same. At a minimum the PIREP must contain a header, aircraft location, time, flight level, aircraft type and one other field.
In recent years{{when|date=July 2024}}, a PIREP will also include UA or UUA used to identify the PIREP as routine or urgent.
==Included data==
===Mandatory===
*UA or UUA used to identify the PIREP as routine or urgent (In Canada this is indicated by the prefix to the PIREP: "UACN01" for an urgent PIREP or "UACN10" for a normal PIREP)
*/OV location of the PIREP, in relation to a NAVAID, an aerodrome or geographical coordinates
*/TM time the PIREP was received from the pilot ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
*/FL [[flight level]] or [[altitude]] above [[sea level]] at the time the PIREP is filed; it is essential for turbulence and icing reports
*/TP aircraft type; it is essential for turbulence and icing reports
===Optional (at least one is required)===
*/SK [[sky cover]]
*/TA [[ambient temperature]]; important for icing reports
*/WV wind vector referenced in terms of [[true north]] (ICAO), or [[North Magnetic Pole|magnetic north]] (in the United States)
*/TB [[turbulence]]; intensity, whether it occurred in or near clouds, and duration
*/IC [[atmospheric icing|icing]]
*/RM remarks
*/WX flight visibility and weather
==AIREP==
Like PIREPs, '''Aircraft Reports (AIREP)''' are reports of actual weather conditions of an aircraft in flight. AIREPs are often automated reports, contrary to PIREPs. Likewise, a different [[encoding]] is used for either type.
==Body==
The message identifier "UA" is used when the PIREP contains non-hazardous weather information. If the PIREP contains a report of a [[tornado]], [[funnel cloud]], [[waterspout]], severe [[turbulence]], severe [[atmospheric icing|icing]], [[hail]], or a low-level [[wind shear]] hazard, the identifier "UUA" would be used.
The location (/OV) can be reported in one of three ways: as a direction and distance from a navigation aid (NAVAID), as a direction and distance from an airport, or as the [[latitude]] and [[longitude]] of the aircraft.
The time (/TM) used is the [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] time that the PIREP is reported.
The flight level (/FL) is reported as either a three digit value that indicates the altitude of the aircraft above sea level in hundreds of feet or can be one of three abbreviations: DURD (during descent or on approach), DURC (during climb or after takeoff) and UNKN (unknown).
Aircraft type (/TP) will be the approved [[ICAO]] designator, or UNKN if not reported.
Sky cover (/SK) is used to report the [[cloud]] layer amounts and the height of the cloud base. The tops of the cloud layers can also be included, as can more than one layer of cloud. Heights are in hundreds of feet above sea level and are three digits. Abbreviations used in this group are "CLR" (clear), "FEW" (few), "SCT" (scattered), "BKN" (broken) and "OVC" (overcast).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aviationweather.gov/airep/help|title=AWC - Aviation Weather Center|first=NOAA's National Weather Service-Aviation Weather Center|last=Homepage|website=www.aviationweather.gov|access-date=2020-12-07|archive-date=2021-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103141711/https://aviationweather.gov/airep/help|url-status=live}}</ref>
Temperature (/TA) is the air temperature in whole degrees Celsius as a two-digit value, with negative temperatures preceded by a minus (-) sign. In the United States, negative temperatures are preceded by the letter M (M).<ref>{{cite web | title=AC 00-45H - Aviation Weather Services - Change 2 | website=FAA.gov | date=2022-12-22 | url=https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/1030235}}</ref><ref name="AIM 7.1"/>
Wind velocity (/WV) must contain both the wind speed and direction. Direction is reported as a three-digit value in whole degrees true and the wind speed in [[knot (unit)|knots]] also in three digits.
Turbulence (/TB) and the intensity are reported in a PIREP based on the aircraft and occupants reaction to the turbulence. The altitude of the turbulence should be included using three-digit groups. When the top or the base of the turbulence is unknown then the abbreviation BLO (below) or ABV (above) should be used. Turbulence should be reported as LGT (light), MDT (moderate), SVR (severe) or in exceptional cases EXTRM (extreme). [[Clear-air turbulence]] is reported as CAT.
Icing (/IC) is reported by type and the intensity or rate of accretion. The type of ice is reported as "CLR" (clear), "[[Hard rime|RIME]]", or "MXD" (mixed). The intensity is reported as "TR" (trace), "LGT" (light), "MDT" (moderate), and "SVR" (severe). (Units are measured in MSL - MEAN SEA LEVEL)
Remarks (/RM) report on other weather conditions that are not covered in the rest of the PIREP may include such things as icing in precipitation, [[thunderstorms]], [[St. Elmo's fire]] and [[weather front|frontal]] conditions. There are many other types of weather conditions that could be reported in a PIREP.
The above explanation of PIREP fields is Canadian. The United States version may also include a weather (/WX) group, while other countries may use other groups and measurements.
===Examples of PIREPs===
These examples are taken from the Canadian MANOBS (Manual of Surface Weather Observations) published by [[Environment Canada]].{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
*PIREP:
::UACN10 CYQT 192128
::YZ WG
::UA /OV YSP 090025 /TM 2120 /FL050 /TP BE99 /SK 020BKN040 110OVC /TA -14 /WV 030045 /TB MDT CAT 060-080 /IC LGT RIME 020-040 /RM LGT FZRA INC
:Decoded as:
::Routine upper air report from [[Thunder Bay]] issued at 2128 UTC on the 19th of the month
::YZ is [[Toronto]] and WG is [[Winnipeg]]: these are the Flight Information Regions where the PIREP was issued
::Aircraft observation was {{convert|25|nmi|km|abbr=on}} east (090 degrees radial) of the [[Marathon, Ontario|Marathon]] [[VHF omnidirectional range|VOR]]/[[distance measuring equipment|DME]] at 2120 UTC. The aircraft was at {{convert|5,000|ft|m|abbr=on}} and is a [[Beechcraft|Beech 99]]. The clouds were broken at {{convert|2,000|ft|m|abbr=on}} AMSL with tops at {{convert|4,000|ft|m|abbr=on}} and an overcast layer at {{convert|11,000|ft|m|abbr=on}} AMSL. The temperature is −14 degrees Celsius and the winds are from the northeast (030 degrees true) at {{convert|45|knots|km/h|abbr=on}}. There is moderate clear air turbulence between {{convert|6,000|ft|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|8,000|ft|m|abbr=on}}. There is light rime icing between {{convert|2,000|ft|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|4,000|ft|m|abbr=on}}. Note this would indicate that the icing is picked up in the cloud. The remarks section says that light freezing rain was encountered in the cloud.
*PIREP
::UACN10 CYXU 032133
::YZ
::UA /OV YUX 09010 /TM 2120 /FL030 /TP C172 /TB MDT /RM MDT TURB BLO 050 CYKF CYXU
:Decoded as:
::Routine message from [[London, Ontario|London]], issued at 2133 UTC on the 3rd of the month
::The Flight Information Region is Toronto
::The aircraft was {{convert|10|nmi|km|abbr=on}} east (090 degrees radial) of the London VOR at 2120 UTC. The aircraft was at {{convert|3,000|ft|m|abbr=on}} and was a [[Cessna 172]]. The pilot reported moderate turbulence. The remarks says that the turbulence was below {{convert|5,000|ft|m|abbr=on}} between [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]]/[[Waterloo, Ontario|Waterloo]] and London.
==Soliciting PIREPs==
In the US, [[air traffic controller]]s are required to solicit PIREPs upon request of other facilities or pilots, or when any of the following conditions exists or is forecast in their area.<ref name="AIM 7.1">{{cite book|chapter=Meteorology | publisher=Federal Aviation Administration |title=Aeronautical Information Manual| date=September 5, 2024 | chapter-url=https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap7_section_1.html |at=7-1-18. Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPs)}}</ref>
*[[Flight ceiling|Ceilings]] at or below {{convert|5,000|ft|m}}
*Visibility at or less than {{convert|5|mi|km}}
*[[Thunderstorm]]s and related phenomena
*[[Turbulence]] of moderate degree or greater
*Icing of light degree or greater
*[[Wind shear]]
*[[Volcanic ash]] clouds
At least once hourly, terminal controllers must obtain a descent/climb-out PIREP, including cloud information and other related phenomena.
== See also ==
* [[AMDAR]] – aircraft meteorological data relay, a WMO FM-42 code for an automatic meteorological report from an aircraft
* [[ACARS]] – ARINC Communications Addressing and Reporting System
* [[SIGMET]]
* [[AIRMET]]
* [[Aeronautical Information Manual]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/FSS/fss0902.html FAA Pilot Weather Report]
* {{cite web | title=Aeronautical Information Manual | date=2024-09-05 |website=faa.gov | url=https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/ }}
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