by Nicolas Jean, Manager, ACC Operations Montréal, NAV CANADA
A PIREP (PIlot REPort) is a report of actual weather conditions encountered by an aircraft in flight. It complements, in real time, existing and observed weather information. Used in combination with other weather products, PIREPs contain important, detailed information that is often more precise than Aviation routine weather reports (METARs), terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs) or information concerning en-route weather and other phenomena in the atmosphere that may affect the safety of aircraft operations (SIGMETs). The greatest benefits of PIREPs are associated with the fact that they provide current weather conditions as observed by aircraft in flight. In areas where no or limited weather information is available, the value of a good PIREP will increase the situational awareness the whole community: Crews & air traffic services (ATS).
Categories of PIREPs
There are two categories of PIREPs: UA heading (routine PIREP) and UUA heading (urgent PIREP). A PIREP is classified as “Urgent” based on the weather phenomena reported which is considered to be hazardous or potentially hazardous to flight operations:
- volcanic ash;
- tornadoes, funnel clouds, waterspouts;
- severe turbulence;
- severe icing;
- hail;
- low-level wind shear; and
- any other reported weather phenomena considered to be hazardous or potentially hazardous to flight operations.
A good PIREP increases the safety level for aircraft in flight. They also provide Environment Canada with relevant and valuable information that can help to establish more accurate weather forecasts, including SIGMETs. For NAV CANADA, PIREPs help to optimize traffic flow and increase the situational awareness of ATS (air traffic control [ATC] & flight service specialist [FSS]).
In the Montréal flight information region (FIR), the Québec flight information centre (FIC) is responsible for relaying PIREPs associated with weather conditions. ATS may request a PIREP or be informed by crews of conditions that require a PIREP. When notified, ATS must coordinate with the FIC to ensure dissemination of this valuable information to the entire community, including Environment Canada.
Type of PIREP
There is also another type of PIREP, one that relates to the reporting of runway surface conditions (good, medium, poor or nil), which are relayed to ATS after a takeoff or landing. Similar to PIREPs associated with weather conditions, this type of PIREP complements, in real time, existing runway conditions (RSC/CRFI) reported by airport authorities. If adverse weather conditions arise (solid or freezing precipitation), these PIREPs, communicated verbally by ATS, influence a flight crew’s decision to proceed with or abort a takeoff or landing. A ripple effect of these PIREPs is that they also influence tactical planning for snow removal operations by airport authorities. At a site like Montréal-Trudeau (CYUL), a PIREP reporting “Poor to Nil” braking during peak traffic will have a considerable impact on an evening’s operations. These PIREPs, which are only disseminated verbally by ATS to crews, will include the type of aircraft, the time of the arrival or departure and, finally, the braking qualifier as reported.
There is no doubt that a PIREP, no matter which one, offers many benefits to crews, airport authorities, Environment Canada and NAV CANADA and can make a difference in the safe conduct of a flight.