(Aug 4, 2008)

On August 2-3, Dr. Stephen Casner gave presentations on a recently completed study of pilot weather reports (PIREPs) at Experimental Aircraft Association¹s (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In the study, five years of PIREP data (obtained from NOAA) were analyzed to determine how many PIREPs are being submitted, what types of weather pilots report, and any recent trends in PIREP submissions. A survey was then conducted among pilots around the U.S. to determine pilots' attitudes toward and beliefs about PIREPs and the PIREP system. A number of factors were discovered that may explain why PIREPs are submitted in modest numbers. Leveraging these findings, a NASA PIREP checklist was designed and distributed to encourage pilots to make more use of this valuable system. The presentations were such a success that Dr. Casner was asked to present the material again for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at a future date.