Definition
An automated air traffic service that uses aircraft surveillance data to detect when an aircraft enters, exits, or operates within a defined airspace area, and generates the required position and status reports on behalf of the pilot. It replaces certain voice position reports in oceanic and remote airspace where surveillance coverage (such as ADS-B or ADS-C) is available.
Plain English
A system that watches an aircraft's position automatically and sends the required check-in reports to controllers, so the pilot does not have to make those reports by radio.
Context Anchor
You may see eSRS in Flight Service, flight plan, and search-and-rescue information, especially when planning flights in remote areas.
Derivation
Enhanced means improved over an earlier version. Special Reporting Service refers to the structured position and status reports pilots are normally required to make in airspace without radar coverage. The 'enhanced' part signals that the reports are now generated automatically from surveillance data rather than spoken by the pilot.
Why Pilots Care
In remote terrain this service can greatly shorten the time needed to locate a downed aircraft and begin rescue.
Intuition Check
Do not read “reporting service” as a weather report or a radio traffic report. Here, it means a service built around the pilot checking in so Flight Service can notice if the flight is not progressing as expected.
Example Sentence 1
Because eSRS was active on that oceanic track, the crew did not need to read position reports over the radio.
Example Sentence 2
After landing safely the pilot canceled the Enhanced Special Reporting Service with the flight service station.