FAA Private Pilot Helicopter (PRH)WeatherMedium
A pilot preparing for a flight through mountainous terrain wants current, actual weather conditions reported by other pilots who recently flew the route. Which report should be requested from Flight Service?
- AMETAR
- BPIREP
- CAIRMET
- DTAF
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. PIREP
A Pilot Report (PIREP) provides firsthand, in-flight observations of actual conditions such as turbulence, icing, cloud tops, and visibility, making it the best source for current conditions along a specific route as experienced by other pilots.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A METAR is a scheduled surface observation at an airport, not an en route pilot report.
- C. An AIRMET is a forecast advisory for hazardous weather, not an actual pilot-reported condition.
- D. A TAF is a scheduled forecast for a specific airport, not an actual in-flight pilot observation.
Pilot Report (PIREP)
A report of actual in-flight weather conditions, such as turbulence, icing, cloud tops/bases, and visibility, submitted by pilots to help other pilots and forecasters.
- Provides real-time, actual conditions rather than forecasts
- Coded format includes location, time, altitude, aircraft type, and conditions
- Especially valuable in mountainous or data-sparse areas
Memory trick: PIREP = Pilots Reporting Exactly what's Present