Definition
Firsthand accounts submitted by pilots in flight describing actual conditions encountered along their route, such as turbulence, icing, cloud bases and tops, visibility, wind, or unusual weather. These reports are passed to air traffic control or a flight service station and shared with other pilots and forecasters to update real-time weather information.
Plain English
When pilots are flying and notice what the weather is actually doing, they radio it in. Those reports are then shared with other pilots and weather services so everyone has a current picture of conditions in the air.
Context Anchor
You may see this term in training discussions, weather briefings, safety reports, and instructor guidance when real pilot experience is used to identify or explain a problem.
Derivation
Report comes from older French and Latin words meaning “to carry back.” That fits the aviation meaning: a pilot brings information back from the flight and passes it to someone who needs it.
Why Pilots Care
They give other pilots and controllers immediate, firsthand information about hazards so everyone can make safer route and altitude decisions.
Intuition Check
Do not assume pilot reports are only formal paperwork after a flight. In aviation, a pilot report can be useful real-time or recent information from someone who actually experienced the condition in flight.
Example Sentence 1
After hitting moderate turbulence at 8,000 feet, the pilot gave a pilot report to Flight Service so other aircraft in the area would be aware.
Example Sentence 2
After flying through moderate turbulence, I made a pilot report to help the next aircraft.