Aviation Weather Reports
Aviation Weather Reports
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Introduction to Aeronautical Science
ASCI 202
Tariq Siddiqui
Aviation Weather Reports
In aviation weather is an extremely crucial element, perhaps the most crucial. Weather from day-to-day or minute-to-minute can change very rapidly, which can dictate and control flight operations. Weather reports in aviation are a collaborative effort between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Department of Defense (DOD), and various other aviation groups and professionals. This paper will examine the different types of weather reports, the information available in each of these reports, and breakdown and extract the information from a randomly generated weather report - a METAR. While information used in weather reports is predominantly submitted by the government and other federal agencies, it is not uncommon for pilots, air traffic controllers, or airmen to report their observations. Weather information submitted by aviation professionals is used in specific types of weather reports and broadcasted in different formats. The type of weather report issued is determined by the person or agency submitting the information.
One type of report is a Pilot Report or PIREP for short. A PIREP is a report of actual weather conditions encountered by an aircraft in flight. This information is relayed via radio by the pilot of an aircraft to the nearest station and then transmitted to local weather offices and air traffic service units. The actual form used to record a PIREP may differ in one country, but the standards and criteria remain the same. At a minimum the PIREP must contain a header, aircraft location, time, flight level, aircraft type, and one other field, i.e.: sky cover, ambient temperature, wind velocity, turbulence, icing, remarks, or flight visibility. In recent years a PIREP will also include UA or UUA, which is the code used to identify the
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Introduction to Aeronautical Science
ASCI 202
Tariq Siddiqui
Aviation Weather Reports
In aviation weather is an extremely crucial element, perhaps the most crucial. Weather from day-to-day or minute-to-minute can change very rapidly, which can dictate and control flight operations. Weather reports in aviation are a collaborative effort between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Department of Defense (DOD), and various other aviation groups and professionals. This paper will examine the different types of weather reports, the information available in each of these reports, and breakdown and extract the information from a randomly generated weather report - a METAR. While information used in weather reports is predominantly submitted by the government and other federal agencies, it is not uncommon for pilots, air traffic controllers, or airmen to report their observations. Weather information submitted by aviation professionals is used in specific types of weather reports and broadcasted in different formats. The type of weather report issued is determined by the person or agency submitting the information.
One type of report is a Pilot Report or PIREP for short. A PIREP is a report of actual weather conditions encountered by an aircraft in flight. This information is relayed via radio by the pilot of an aircraft to the nearest station and then transmitted to local weather offices and air traffic service units. The actual form used to record a PIREP may differ in one country, but the standards and criteria remain the same. At a minimum the PIREP must contain a header, aircraft location, time, flight level, aircraft type, and one other field, i.e.: sky cover, ambient temperature, wind velocity, turbulence, icing, remarks, or flight visibility. In recent years a PIREP will also include UA or UUA, which is the code used to identify the
Cited: Administration, F. A. (2013, December 16). Meteorology. Retrieved from Airman Manual: http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/aim0701.html Administration, F. A. (2013, December 16). Terminal Area Forecast. Retrieved from Federal Aviation Administration: http://aspm.faa.gov/main/taf.asp Thorson, S. (2013, December 19). Coordinated Universal Time. Retrieved from Time and Date: http://www.timeanddate.com/time/aboututc.html Various. (2013, December 19). Aviation Weather. Retrieved from AvnWX.com: http://maps.avnwx.com/help/sigmets.html