Pilot Weather Reports (PIREP's) Flashcards
Under what conditions are ATC facilities required to solicit PIREP’s from pilot’s?
Ceiling below 5000 feet or visibility at or below 5 miles.
Who do pilots make PIREP’s to?
An FSS or ATC.
What does the ATC facility or FSS do with the PIREP once it is filed?
Add it to the distribution system to brief other pilots and provide in-flight advisories.
What does TEI stand for?
Text Element Indicator
Name all of the PIREP TEI’s
/UA /OV /TM /FL /TP /SK /WX /TA /WV /TB /IC /RM
What is a UA?
Routine PIREP.
What is a UUA?
An Urgent PIREP.
What is /OV?
Location
What is /TM?
Time
What is /FL?
Altitude or Flight Level
What is /TP?
Aircraft Type
What is /SK?
Cloud Layers
What is /WX?
Visibility & Weather
What is /TA?
Air Temperature
What is /WV?
Wind
What is /TB?
Turbulence
What is /IC?
Icing
What is /RM?
Remarks
What makes a PIREP urgent?
A tornado, funnel cloud, waterspout, severe or extreme turbulence, severe icing, hail, volcanic ash, or low level wind shear.
A… LOCATION!
/OV (Location)/(“Over”)
What are the 3 ways to report your PIREP location?
- Direction and distance from a NAVAID.
- Direction and distance from an Airport.
- The Latitude and Longitude of the PIREP.
A… LOCATION!
What does Location look like on a PIREP?
/OV ORD090035 .
(Look at the spaces!)
/OV(space)
NAVAID/AIRPORT identifier,
3 digits for heading from the NAVAID/AIRPORT,
3 digits for distance from the NAVAID/AIRPORT
(Space).
B… TIME!
What does Time look like on a PIREP?
/TM 0950 .
(Look at the spaces!)
Four digits in 24 hour UTC
(space)
C… ALTITUDE/FLIGHT LEVEL!
What does Altitude/Flight Level look like on a PIREP?
/FL018 . (1800 ft)
/FLUNKN . (Unknown)
/FLDURD . (During descent or on approach)
/FLDURC . (During climb or after takeoff)
D… AIRCRAFT TYPE!
What does aircraft type look like on a PIREP?
/TP C182 .
/TP UNKN .
(Look at the spaces!)
E… SKY CONDITION!
What does the following mean?
/SK BKN-OVCUNKN-TOP060/BKN120-TOP150/ SKC
Broken to Overcast cloud layer starting at an UNKNOWN base height with a top of 6000 feet (MSL).
AND
A second layer of of BROKEN cloud from 12000 feet (MSL) to 15000 feet (MSL) and clear sky above that.
E… SKY CONDITION!
What does the following mean?
/SK OVC065-TOPUNKN /RM IMC
There is an overcast cloud layer from 6500 feet (MSL) to an UNKNOWN height…
The /RM IMC means the plane is in the clouds “IM in the Clouds”
E… SKY CONDITION!
Regarding /SK
What are the authorised contractions for cloud cover?
SKC FEW SCT BKN OVC
E… SKY CONDITION!
When more than one layer is reported, what do you use to separate layers in your PIREP?
A solidus (/).
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is the first thing you might report in this field?
Visibility (if reported!)
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
If reporting Visibility, how would it look?
FV followed by a two-digit visibility value rounded down, if necessary, to the nearest whole statute mile and append “SM” (FV03SM).
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
If visibility is reported as unrestricted, what would you enter?
FV99SM
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What comes after VISIBILITY?
Flight weather types using one or more of the 34 standard surface weather reporting symbols.
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Drifting Snow/Blowing Snow
DRSN/BLSN
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Drifting Dust
DRDU
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Drifting Sand
DRSA
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Drizzle/Freezing Drizzle
DZ/FZDZ
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Dust/Blowing Dust
DU/BLDU
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Freezing Fog
FZFG
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Freezing Rain
FZRA
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Hail Shower
SHGR
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Ice Pellets/Ice Pellet Showers
PL/SHPL
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Patchy Fog
BCFG
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Patchy Fog on part of Arpt
PRFG
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Rain/Showers
RA/SHRA
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Sand/Blowing Sand
SA/BLSA
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Shallow Fog
MIFG
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What is:
Sml Hail/Snow Pellet Showers
SHGS
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
Intensity of precipitation (- for light, no qualifier for moderate, and + for heavy) must be indicated with WHICH 2 PRECIPITATION TYPES?
Ice crystals and hail.
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
Intensity of obscurations must be described as moderate or + heavy for WHICH 2 TYPES OF OBSCURATIONS?
Dust and Sand Storms only.
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
What does the following mean?
/WX FV01SM +DS000-TOP083/ SKC /RM DURC
Flight visibility (rounded down to) 1 Statute Mile…
Heavy Dust Storm up to 8300 feet (MSL) with clear sky above that!
The observation was made during Climb.
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
When more than one form of precipitation is combined in the report, which type must be reported first?
The dominant type.
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
When FC is entered in /WX, WHAT is spelled out on /RM?
FUNNEL CLOUD!
For Example:
/WX FC /RM FUNNEL CLOUD
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
When +FC is entered in /WX, WHAT is spelled out in the /RM TEI?
TORNADO or WATERSPOUT
For Example:
/WX +FC /RM TORNADO or WATERSPOUT
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
How would you include the size of hail and where would you do so?
You would enter in 1/4” increments in the remarks /RM TEI.
EXAMPLE
/RM GR1/2
/RM GR3/4
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
When might you use The proximity qualifier VC (Vicinity)?
The proximity qualifier VC (Vicinity) is only used with TS, FG, FC, +FC, SH, PO, BLDU, BLSA, and BLSN.
EXAMPLE-
/WX FV02SM BLDU000-TOP083 VC W
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
When more than one type of weather is to be reported what should be the order?
1) TORNADO, WATERSPOUT, OR FUNNEL CLOUD;
2) Thunderstorm with or without associated precipitation;
3) Weather phenomena in order of decreasing predominance.
AND
No more than three groups in a single PIREP.
G… AIR TEMPETATURE! /TA
What does Air Temperature look like on a PIREP?
/TA
(space)
Air Temperature degrees C
or
M
Air Temperature degrees C
/TA 08 - 8 degrees Celcius
/TA M08 - minus 8 degrees Celcius
F… VISIBILITY & WEATHER! /WX
Weather layers must be entered with the WHAT and/or WHAT of the layer when reported?
Their base and/or top of the layer using the same format as in the /SK TEI.
H… WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED! /WV
What is /WV made up of?
/WV (space) Three digit wind direction (magnetic) Two/Three digit wind speed KT.
/WV 28080KT wind heading 280 degrees at 80 knot's /WV 28008KT wind heading 280 degrees at 8 knot's /WV 280105KT wind heading 280 degrees at 105 knot's
I… TURBULENCE! /TB
What is /TB made up of?
/TB(space)
Intensity(space)
“LGT,MOD,SEV,EXTRM… USE ‘-‘ to range from ONE to ANOTHER e.g. LGT-MOD
Type(space)
CAT “clear air turbulence” or CHOP “rhythmic turbulence”
Altitude(space)
Using 3 digits in hundreds of feet MSL for base and top of the turbulence seperated by a hyphen ‘-‘
Use BLO if base unknown
Use ABV if top unknown
EXAMPLE- /TB LGT 040 /TB MOD-SEV BLO 080 /TB MOD-SEV CAT 350 /TB NEG 120-180 /TB MOD CHOP 220/NEG 230-280 /TB MOD CAT ABV 290
Which parts of the PIREP are Mandetory?
Mandatory
UA or UUA /OV /TM /FL /TP
Which parts of the PIREP are by Choice?
AT LEAST 1 IS REQUIRED! /SK /TA /WV /TB /IC /RM /WX
I… TURBULENCE! /TB
What is CAT
Clear Air Turbulence
I… TURBULENCE! /TB
What is CHOP?
Rhythmic Turbulence.
J… ICING! /IC
What does Icing look like on a PIREP?
/IC(space) INTENSITY(space)"TR,LGT,MDT,SVR trace/light/moderate/severe... TYPE(space) "CLR,RIME,MXD" clear/rime/mixed...
and if different to /FL TMI then…
ALTITUDE(space) 000-000 BLO-ABV if either is unknown.
EXAMPLE- /IC LGT-MDT MXD 085 /IC LGT RIME /IC MDT RIME BLO 095 /IC SEV CLR 035-062
I… TURBULENCE! /TB
If turbulence was forecasted, but not encountered, what do you enter and where?
NEG.
/TB NEG 120-180
or
/TB MOD CHOP 220/NEG 230-280
K… REMARKS! /RM
This TEI is used to report any phenomenon which is considered important but does not fit in any of the other TEIs. This includes, but is not limited to WHAT?
Low level wind shear (LLWS) reports, Thunderstorm lines Coverage and movement, Size of hail (1/4’’ increments),
Lightning,
Clouds observed but not encountered,
Geographical or local description of where the phenomenon occurred and contrails.
NOTE:
Report hazardous weather first.
Describe LLWS to the extent possible.
K… REMARKS! /RM
Wind Shear.
How is Wind shear reported?
Wind speed fluctuations of +/- 10 Kts or more within 2,000 Ft require an Urgent (UUA) PIREP.
Enter LLWS as the first remark. LLWS may be reported as -, +, or +/- depending on how it effects the aircraft. If the location is different than the /OV or /FL fields, include the location in the remarks.
EXAMPLE-
/RM LLWS +/-15 KT SFC-008 DURC RY22 JFK
K… REMARKS! /RM
FUNNEL CLOUD’s, TORNADO’s, and WATERSPOUT’s are entered HOW?
With the direction of movement if reported.
EXAMPLE-
/RM TORNADO E MOV E
K… REMARKS! /RM
How are Thunderstorm’s reported in the remarks section?
Enter coverage (ISOL, FEW, SCT, NMRS) and description (LN,BKN LN,SLD LN) if reported. Follow with “TS,” the location and movement, and the type of lightning if reported.
EXAMPLE-
/RM NMRS TS S MOV E GR1/2
K… REMARKS! /RM
How is Lightening reported in the remarks section?
Frequency (OCNL, FRQ, CONS), followed by type (LTGIC, LTGCC, LTGCG, LTGCA, or combinations), if reported.
EXAMPLE-
/RM OCNL LTGICCG
K… REMARKS! /RM
How is Electric Discharge reported in the remarks section?
Enter DISCHARGE followed by the altitude.
EXAMPLE-
/RM DISCHARGE 120
K… REMARKS! /RM
How are Clouds reported in the remarks section?
Use remarks when clouds can be seen but were not encountered and reported in /SK.
EXAMPLE-
/RM CB E MOV N
/RM OVC BLO
K… REMARKS! /RM
When might you use plain language?
If specific phraseology is not adequate, use plain language to describe the phenomena or local geographic locations. Include remarks that do not fit in other TEIs like DURC, DURD, RCA, TOP, TOC, or CONTRAILS.
EXAMPLE- /RM BUMPY VERY ROUGH RIDE /RM CONTRAILS /UA/OV BIS270030/TM 1445/FL060/TP CVLT/TB LGT /RM Donner Summit Pass
K… REMARKS! /RM
How is Volcanic Ash reported in the remarks section?
As an Urgent PIREP.
Must include as much information as possible.
Name of mountain, ash cloud and movement, height of the top and bottom of the ash, etc.
If received from other than a pilot, enter Aircraft “UNKN,” Flight Level “UNKN,” and /RM UNOFFICIAL.
EXAMPLE-
UUA/OV ANC240075/TM 2110/FL370/TP DC10/WX VA/RM VOLCANIC ERUPTION 2008Z MT AUGUSTINE ASH 40S MOV SSE
Which 2 Weather Types must always include the type aircraft TEI?
Icing and turbulence reports