2-6-2

PIREP Solicitation and Dissemination

JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

Emphasis must be placed on the solicitation and dissemination of Urgent (UUA) and Routine (UA) PIREPs. Timely dissemination of PIREPs alerts pilots to weather conditions and provides information useful to forecasters in the development of aviation forecasts. PIREPs also provide information required by ATC in the provision of safe and efficient use of airspace. This includes reports of strong frontal activity, squall lines, thunderstorms, light to severe icing, wind shear and turbulence (including clear air turbulence) of moderate or greater intensity, braking action, volcanic eruptions and volcanic ash clouds, detection of sulfur gases in the cabin, and other conditions pertinent to flight safety. Controllers must provide the information in sufficient detail to assist pilots in making decisions pertinent to flight safety.

Solicit PIREPs when requested, deemed necessary or any of the following conditions exists or is forecast for your area of jurisdiction:
1. Ceilings at or below 5,000 feet. These PIREPs must include cloud bases, tops and cloud coverage when available. Additionally, when providing approach control services, ensure that at least one descent/climb–out PIREP and other related phenomena is obtained each hour.
2. Visibility (surface or aloft) at or less than 5 miles.
3. Thunderstorms and related phenomena.
4. Turbulence of moderate degree or greater.
5. Icing of light degree or greater.
6. Wind shear.
7. Braking action reports less than good.
8. Volcanic ash clouds.
9. Detection of sulfur gases (SO₂ or H₂S), associated with volcanic activity, in the cabin.
  Note
  1. The smell of sulfur gases in the cockpit may indicate volcanic activity that has not yet been detected or reported and/or possible entry into an ash‐bearing cloud. SO₂ is identifiable as the sharp, acrid odor of a freshly struck match. H₂S has the odor of rotten eggs.
  2. Pilots may forward PIREPs regarding volcanic activity using the format described in the Volcanic Activity Reporting Form (VAR) as depicted in the AIM, Appendix 2.
Categorize PIREPs as follows:
1. URGENT. The following weather phenomena must be classified as an URGENT PIREP (UUA):
  1. Tornadoes, funnel clouds, or waterspouts.
  2. Severe or extreme turbulence (including clear air turbulence).
  3. Severe icing.
  4. Hail.
  5. Low‐level wind shear (LLWS). For the safety of light aircraft, classify low‐level wind shear PIREPs as UUA if the pilot reports airspeed fluctuations of 10 knots or more. Classify reports of low‐level wind shear with airspeed fluctuations less than 10 knots as routine. If airspeed fluctuation is not reported, classify PIREP as UUA.
    Note
    
    Low‐level wind shear is defined as wind shear within 2,000 feet of the surface.
  6. Volcanic eruption, ash clouds, and/or detection of sulfur gases (H₂S or SO₂) in the cabin, however, if a pilot only reported the smell of H₂S or SO₂ in the cabin and confirmed no volcanic ash clouds were present, classify the report as a ROUTINE PIREP.
  7. Any other weather phenomena reported which in your opinion may be hazardous, or potentially hazardous, to flight operations.
2. ROUTINE. Classify as ROUTINE (UA) all PIREPs received except those listed above.
Record with the PIREPs:
1. Time.
2. Aircraft position.
3. Type aircraft.
4. Altitude or range of altitudes.
5. When the PIREP involves turbulence, include:
  1. Duration (occasional, intermittent, or continuous).
  2. Intensity (light, moderate, severe, or extreme).
    Note
    
    The duration and intensity of turbulence is determined by the pilot.
6. When the PIREP involves icing, include:
  1. Icing type and intensity (trace, light, moderate, or severe).
  2. Air temperature in which icing is occurring.
Obtain PIREPs directly from the pilot, or if the PIREP has been requested by another facility, you may instruct the pilot to deliver it directly to that facility.
Phraseology

REQUEST/SAY FLIGHT CONDITIONS. Or if appropriate,
REQUEST/SAY (specific conditions; i.e., ride, cloud, visibility, etc.) CONDITIONS.
If necessary,
OVER (fix),
or
ALONG PRESENT ROUTE,
or
BETWEEN (fix) AND (fix).
Disseminate PIREPs as follows:
1. Relay pertinent PIREP information to concerned aircraft in a timely manner.
  Note
  
  Use the word gain and/or loss when describing to pilots the effects of wind shear on airspeed.
  
  Example
  
  “Delta Seven Twenty-one, a Boeing Seven Thirty-seven, previously reported wind shear, loss of two five knots at four hundred feet.”
  “Alaska One, a Boeing Seven Thirty-seven, previously reported wind shear, gain of two-five knots between niner hundred and six hundred feet, followed by a loss of five zero knots between five hundred feet and the surface.”
  
  Reference
  
  AIM, Para 7-1-22, Wind Shear PIREPs.
2. EN ROUTE. Relay all operationally significant PIREPs to the facility weather coordinator.
  Reference
  
  FAA Order JO 7210.3, Para 6-3-1, Handling of SIGMETs, CWAs, and PIREPs.
3. TERMINAL. Relay all operationally significant PIREPs to:
  1. The appropriate intrafacility positions.
  2. The OS/CIC for long line dissemination via an FAA approved electronic system (for example, AIS-R, or similar systems); or,
  3. Outside Alaska: The overlying ARTCC's Flight Data Unit for long-line dissemination.
  4. Alaska Only: The FSS serving the area in which the report was obtained.
    Note
    
    The FSS in Alaska is responsible for long line dissemination.
    
    Reference
    
    FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-2, Duty Priority.
  5. Other concerned terminal or en route ATC facilities, including non-FAA facilities.