Pilot Report System Modernization

In response to the findings of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation of Pilot Report (PIREP) submission and dissemination, as well as PIREPs being on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Top 5 Hazards list, the FAA Office of Program Management for Aviation Weather and Aeronautical Services Programs tasked MITRE to develop a strategic plan and roadmap for PIREP modernization in the NAS. This paper describes the efforts to develop a PIREP modernization strategic plan that includes a phased implementation approach for transitioning to a future PIREP submission and dissemination capability. A key component of that transition will be the subsumption of the Weather Message Switching Center Replacement (WMSCR) system, including its current PIREP functionality, by the Common Support Services – Weather (CSS-Wx) program as part of CSS-Wx Enhancement 1. Included is a summary of the problem statement, operational needs, challenges in PIREP submission and dissemination and potential improvements to the systems that receive, store and disseminate PIREPs to NAS users and to the meteorological community for improving weather forecast models.

NOTICE

This work was produced for the U.S. Government under Contract DTFAWA-10-C-00080 and is subject to Federal Aviation Administration Acquisition Management System Clause 3.5-13, Rights In Data-General, Alt. III and Alt. IV (Oct. 1996).

The contents of this document reflect the views of the author and The MITRE Corporation and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the Department of Transportation (DOT). Neither the FAA nor the DOT makes any warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, concerning the content or accuracy of these views.

© 2019 The MITRE Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited. Case 19-2549.