NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-17-015
Recommendation
TO THE AVIATION ACCREDITATION BOARD INTERNATIONAL, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND THE SOCIETY OF AVIATION AND FLIGHT EDUCATORS (EACH, RESPECTIVELY): Encourage your members to teach their students, during initial flight training, recurrent flight training, and flight reviews, the importance of pilot weather reports (PIREPs) and include, at a minimum, (1) real-world examples that illustrate the value of both fair-weather and adverse-weather PIREPs; (2) explanations of how PIREPs are used by and benefit various users in the National Airspace System; (3) examples of the various ways to submit PIREPs while minimizing distraction; and (4) practical experience assessing weather and submitting a PIREP of the observed phenomena, including reporting their location accurately.
Safety Issue and Context
Pilot weather reports (PIREPs), which are brief reports from pilots describing observed in-flight weather conditions, are an important source of weather information in the National Airspace System (NAS). Complete, accurate, and timely weather information is essential to support flight safety for all aircraft operations—large and small—in the NAS; it is vital for use in avoiding inadvertent encounters with hazardous weather and preventing weather-related accidents. Historically, weather-related accidents involving general aviation aircraft that encountered poor visibility have a higher fatality rate than all other types of accidents.
For US air carriers, accidents involving encounters with in-flight turbulence account for the most injuries to passengers and flight attendants. PIREPs, because they provide in situ observations, are one of the most important pieces of information that weather forecasters have when assessing the quality of their forecasts and improving graphical weather products used by pilots and others to avoid weather hazards in the NAS.
Response History
October 3, 2022 · NTSB Correspondence · Society of Aviation and Flight Educators
We note that you have published blogs, social media posts, and presentations highlighting the importance of using PIREPs. We are interested in knowing how our safety recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the traveling public is provided the highest level of safety and to identify creative solutions that might be shared with others. We would appreciate an opportunity to review your material. Pending our review of that information, Safety Recommendation A-17-15 is classified OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.
September 20, 2022 · NTSB Correspondence · National Association of Flight Instructors
We have not heard from you regarding this recommendation since it was issued, despite our September 12, 2018, letter requesting an update. We normally expect actions to address our recommendations to be completed within 3 to 5 years; however, it has now been over 5 years since this recommendation was issued, and we have not received any information regarding NAFI’s actions to implement it. Accordingly, Safety Recommendations A-17-15 is classified CLOSED--UNACCEPTABLE ACTION/NO RESPONSE RECEIVED. If you inform us, in a timely manner, of any responsive actions that you have taken or planned to address this recommendation, we may change its classification.
September 20, 2022 · NTSB Correspondence · Aviation Accreditation Board International
We have not heard from you regarding this recommendation since it was issued, despite our September 12, 2018, letter requesting an update. We normally expect actions to address our recommendations to be completed within 3 to 5 years; however, it has now been over 5 years since this recommendation was issued, and we have not received any information regarding the AABI’s actions to implement it. Accordingly, Safety Recommendations A-17-15 is classified CLOSED--UNACCEPTABLE ACTION/NO RESPONSE RECEIVED. If you inform us, in a timely manner, of any responsive actions that you have taken or planned to address this recommendation, we may change its classification.