PIREPs, how long do they last?

Couldn't tell you exactly. We just relay the PIREP. Besides, they sold that portion of ATC to the lowest bidder a decade ago.

95% of the time when we get a PIREP we call the appropriate FSS position on a dial line (like a streamlined phone call). The other 5% of the time they don't answer. First time that happened to me I called one of a couple of alternate numbers, but when the guy said this isn't my job, why did you call me? I explained how the proper line had been ringing for 5 minutes straight and just gave up when he told me to try it again.

I'm sorry, what was the question again?
 
1 hour in the center environment. We'll take a PIREP down, hand it to the sup, and the sup will take it over to the weather guy who also enter PIREPs in. They print on a strip center wide and then we read them. If it doesn't pertain to your sector, though (or at least near it) then we're going to read it once and then discard it. Now, the 7110 says you only have to read what is pertinent to your sector but a local order here says we have to read all urgent PIREPs. Why I need to waste my time telling you that a Cessna reported severe turbulence at 3,000 when you're at 35,000 going to New York is beyond me but that's above my pay grade. I think those are as useful as "Attention all aircraft, hazardous weather information for (insert 15 states)..." I know you guys are just sitting at the edge of our seats in anticipation for that critical information that you're all just about ready to put FSS under by calling all at once.
 
Our center blew its budget on electronic PIREP submission. All we have to do is type it into the ERIDS (another little screen hanging near the scope) and it magically arrives at the weather desk. I know it goes through about five more steps after that before it appears on, say, aviationweather.gov, but I don't know how long it takes. Most controllers will continue to relay relevant PIREPS over the frequency to affected aircraft for at least an hour, but it's really up to the particular controller. There's a function you can use to type info on the scope so you don't forget.
 
At our center as well we enter it into ERIDS, call flight data and they will enter it into the PIREP system whatever that is. As for at the actual sector usually the ride info is scribbled down on a piece of paper if it is important enough (icing, mod turb or above), that piece of paper may not get thrown out for 2-3 days depending if someone is bored enough to clean the sector lol. But I typically read it for about an hour to anyone I am working, and then try to get more up to date pireps along the way. Usually if there is turbulence in the sector it lasts all day. If its just chop it is usually just given during the briefing. Some pilots love giving pireps and I prefer to know your ride if you are in anything but smooth, others you would never know until you ask. Someone at F350 says hey im getting a little light turb, first report of the day, I ask the flight ahead at F350, and they say oh yea we have been in that for 100 miles. Well that would be nice to know...that way when you check in I can give a ride report and not have to field constant complaint calls.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top