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This glossary is written for virtual airline and flight simulation use within Virtual Air Canada Airline. It is not intended as a real-world aviation reference.
A Pilot Report is a weather observation or flight condition report submitted by a pilot during or after a flight. In real aviation, PIREPs are voluntary or mandatory reports transmitted to ATC or a Flight Service Station describing actual conditions encountered - including turbulence intensity and altitude, icing type and severity, cloud tops, wind shear, and instrument meteorological conditions. PIREPs are critical inputs to aviation weather forecasting because they provide real-time data from within the airspace that no ground-based system can replicate. PIREPs use a standardized format with coded elements: UA (routine) or UUA (urgent), location (/OV), time (/TM), altitude (/FL), aircraft type (/TP), sky conditions (/SK), temperature (/TA), wind (/WV), turbulence (/TB), icing (/IC), and remarks (/RM). An urgent PIREP is filed whenever a pilot encounters conditions hazardous to flight including severe turbulence, severe icing, or low-level wind shear. Aviation authorities encourage all PIREPs as they improve the collective situational awareness of the aviation community.

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In Virtual Airline Operations

At Virtual Air Canada Airline, a PIREP is the flight report submitted after completing a flight and is the primary record of your activity. Pegasus ACARS automatically captures your flight data - route flown, departure and arrival airports, flight time, fuel used, and landing rate - and submits your PIREP to the VA system when the flight is complete. Every completed PIREP contributes to your pilot record and total hours.
  • ACARS - Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System
  • OFP - Operational Flight Plan
  • PIC - Pilot-in-Command