FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX)WeatherEasy
A pilot receives a PIREP indicating 'UA/OV KSEA/TM 1430/FL060/TP C172/SK OVC030/WX FV05SM HZ/TA M02/WV 270020KT/TB MOD/RM NRM ICE'. What is the reported temperature at 6,000 feet?
- ANot reported in this PIREP.
- B2 degrees Celsius below zero.
- C2 degrees Celsius above zero.
- D20 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. 2 degrees Celsius below zero.
In a PIREP, 'TA' stands for temperature aloft. 'M' preceding a number indicates minus or below zero. Therefore, 'M02' means minus 2 degrees Celsius.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect; the temperature is clearly reported as 'TA M02'.
- C. Incorrect as 'M' denotes minus, not positive.
- D. Incorrect unit of temperature; PIREPs use Celsius.
PIREP Temperature Aloft (TA)
The 'TA' element in a PIREP reports the temperature aloft, always in degrees Celsius. 'M' indicates a negative value.
- TA is Temperature Aloft.
- Values are in degrees Celsius.
- 'M' preceding a number indicates minus/negative.
- No 'M' indicates positive temperature.
Memory trick: PIREP's temp: Minus 'M' or plus, Celsius for us.