PIREP

Description

A Pilot Report or PIREP is a report of the actual weather conditions as encountered by an aircraft in flight. Traditionally, these reports are transmitted by radio to an appropriate ground station for dissemination but, when necessary, they can be made by telephone after landing. More recently, appropriately equipped aircraft can automatically send meteorological reports using the Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR) programme.

The Need

Hazardous weather exists in many forms inclusive of turbulence, in-flight icing and thunderstorms. Pilots encountering any of these phenomena can contribute to the safety of flight for other aircraft by reporting the time, location and intensity of the encountered threat.