Submission Tool Located On The NWS Aviation Weather Center Website

The National Weather Service (NWS) has added an electronic PIREP submission tool to its Aviation Weather Center (AWC) Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS) website.

An Information for Operators (InFO) bulletin posted to the FAA website indicates that the PIREP submission tool will enable users to enter their turbulence and icing PIREPS electronically, which will be displayed graphically and distributed nationwide.

PIREPS are reports of meteorological phenomena encountered inflight. When reported, these observations assist other pilots, dispatchers and flight planners with flight plan preparation, situational awareness and operational control decision-making. Additionally, these PIREPS are integrated into the NWS forecast production process to help improve the accuracy of forecasts. This includes human generated products such as the AIRMET and SIGMET as well as automated products such as the Graphical Turbulence Guidance (GTG), the Current Icing Product (CIP), and the Forecast Icing Product (FIP). Often, there is a lack of PIREPs submitted that report better than forecast weather (e.g., the forecast calls for an area of turbulence but the pilot encounters smooth air). A PIREP reporting good weather (often called a null report) is just as important to the forecast process as a PIREP reporting poor weather conditions. It is expected that national airspace users including all Part 121, Part 91K, HEMS and the General Aviation community will benefit from improved accuracy of forecast products.

FMI: Submission Tool