More On Pireps

Last month in this space, we reported on a Special Investigative Report (SIR-17/02) from the NTSB, Improving Pilot Weather Report Submission and Dissemination to Benefit Safety in the National Airspace System. Its a 68-page collection of everything thats wrong with the Pireps system. We also highlighted as most interesting one of the NTSBs recommendations: for the FAA to provide a reliable means of electronically accepting pilot weather reports directly from all users.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The NTSB's Special Investigative Report on Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPs) criticized the current system, recommending a reliable electronic submission method, to which the FAA responded by promoting its existing, albeit cumbersome, electronic PIREP tool on the NWS ADDS website and offering free training.
Pilots interested in electronic PIREP submission must register on the NWS Aviation Weather Center Digital Data Service (ADDS) website, undergoing a validation process that may include proof of license or specific email addresses.
The FAA issued a Special Airworthiness Bulletin (SAIB) for Continental 520/550-series engines, advising inspections for damage to components like crankshaft gear retaining screws following an engine kickback during startup.
Another SAIB addressed Cessna 150/152 models, recommending inspections of elevator hinge bolts due to reports of them backing out, which can lead to in-flight elevator separation and loss of pitch control.

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Last month in this space, we reported on a Special Investigative Report (SIR-17/02) from the NTSB, “Improving Pilot Weather Report Submission and Dissemination to Benefit Safety in the National Airspace System.” It’s a 68-page collection of everything that’s wrong with the Pireps system. We also highlighted as “most interesting” one of the NTSB’s recommendations: for the FAA to “provide a reliable means of electronically accepting pilot weather reports directly from all users.” The NTSB added that the FAA should “ensure that the system has the capacity to accept and make available all such reports to the [NAS].” Since then, the FAA has seen fit to remind pilots that capability already exists, even if it’s a bit cumbersome.

A recent Notice from the agency advised, “The FAA has a new, electronic PIREP submission tool at the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Aviation Weather Center Digital Data Service (ADDS) website. Registered users can electronically submit turbulence and icing PIREPs on the site, which are instantly displayed in graphical form and distributed nationwide. Visit www.aviationweather.gov/user/register to register on the Aviation Weather Center site.”