Program Encourages More PIREPS

Participation in the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s SkySpotter® pilot-report (pirep) training program has built so quickly that sometime in the next few weeks, the 10,000th participant will be logged. He or she will receive special recognition for the accomplishment.

ASF unveiled the program in November 2001 to encourage pilots to file more pilot reports and actively play a crucial role in the improvement of weather reporting and forecasting. "More than 9,800 pilots had completed the program by the middle of August," said Kathleen Roy, ASF senior research analyst.

The entertaining Web-based SkySpotter® training session is cosponsored by the FAA and National Weather Service to teach pilots how to formulate and deliver pireps. Training explains the use of official reporting criteria to convey the likes of airframe-ice accumulation or turbulence. Pilots promise to provide at least one pirep on every cross-country flight, either confirming the forecast or stating any changed conditions.

The 10,000th SkySpotter® participant's photo will appear on the ASF Web site, plus the recipient gets an autographed copy of Weather Flying by Bob Buck, and an AOPA dual-time-zone watch. Visit the SkySpotter® online program to participate.

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation is the nation's only private, nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to providing continuing pilot education and safety programs for general aviation. It is funded by donations from individual pilots and organizations, which support the cause of improved general aviation safety.

Foundation safety outreach efforts are funded through voluntary donations by AOPA members and tax-deductible contributions from individual pilots and companies interested in promoting general aviation safety.

FMI: www.aopa.org