NTSB Issues Safety Recommendation A-17-018 to FAA Regarding Pilot Weather Report Guidance

The National Transportation Safety Board, identified by reference number DCA15SR001, has issued safety recommendation A-17-018 to the Federal Aviation Administration. This directive calls for collaborative action between the FAA and the National Weather Service to revise and harmonize pilot weather report guidance found in the Aeronautical Information Manual and Advisory Circular 00-45H. The recommended updates specifically address criteria for reporting low-level windshear, requiring specification of airspeed gain or loss, as well as turbulence, necessitating clarification on whether conditions are in-cloud or out-of-cloud. Additionally, the recommendation addresses fair weather reporting standards. Furthermore, the FAA is urged to revise the Aeronautical Information Manual to either include comprehensive pilot weather report coding guidance or clearly reference Advisory Circular 00-45H as the authoritative source for this information.