Pirep (Vdl Only); Airmet - Honeywell Bendix/King KMD 550 Pilot's Manual Addendum

Basic Service Weather Products

PIREP (VDL ONLY)

A PIREP (Pilot Weather Report) is an observation of conditions at a spe-
cific location or along a specific route. These conditions are reported by
pilots when communications are established with ground facilities such
EFAS, AFSS/FSS, ARTCC or ATC. Abbreviations are the same as in a
METAR. Pilots are encouraged to promptly volunteer these reports. A
PIREP will contain elements in the following order:
1. Type of message (urgent or routine)
2. Location in relation to an airport or VHF NAVAID
3. Time observed
4. Flight Level (may not always be present)
5. Type of aircraft (may not always be present)
6. Sky cover (may not always be present)
7. Weather conditions (may not always be present)
8. Temperature (may not always be present)
9. Wind direction and speed (may not always be present)
10. Turbulence (may not always be present)
11. Icing (may not always be present)
12. Remarks (may not always be present)
PIREPs available within the selected range of the selected area will be
displayed up to a maximum of 25 reports. These reports are displayed in
an encoded textual format.
NOTE: PIREPs older than 120 minutes are discarded.
See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual PIREPs.

AIRMET

An AIRMET (Airman's Meteorological Information) is an advisory of sig-
nificant weather that could be hazardous to single engine, light aircraft
and VFR pilots. However, parameters are such that the phenomena
does not require issuance of a SIGMET. AIRMETs address details
regarding IFR, extensive mountain obscuration, turbulence, strong sur-
face winds, icing and freezing levels. AIRMETs are considered wide-
spread because they must either be affecting or forecast to affect an
area at least 3,000 square miles. However, during the forecast period,
the actual affected area may be much smaller. AIRMETs are issued
every six hours and the maximum forecast period is 6 hours. An
AIRMET will contain elements in the following order:
1. Forecast Area
2. Report Type
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Revision 6 Feb/2009
KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum