Definition
In a Pilot Report (PIREP), /TA is the field identifier that introduces the type of aircraft making the report. It appears as part of the standard PIREP format on aviation weather products, where each element of the report is preceded by a forward-slash code (e.g., /OV for location, /TM for time, /FL for flight level, /TP for aircraft type). Note: in some PIREP formats and FAA publications, aircraft type is coded as /TP rather than /TA; the slash-letter codes identify which piece of information follows.
Plain English
It is a label used inside a pilot weather report to mark which part of the report tells you what kind of aircraft the pilot was flying when they made the observation.
Context Anchor
Seen in pilot weather reports, especially when reviewing actual conditions reported by another aircraft.
Derivation
The slash (/) acts as a separator, and the letters that follow are a shorthand tag for the data element. This format keeps reports compact for transmission over text-based weather systems, where every character counts.
Why Pilots Care
Temperature information helps evaluate aircraft performance, icing risk, and engine behavior at altitude.
Intuition Check
/TA is not a forecast and not a time entry. It is the air temperature reported from an aircraft at the location and altitude of that pilot report.
Example Sentence 1
Reading the PIREP, the pilot found the /TA field and noted the report came from a Boeing 737, so the light chop reported at FL310 would likely feel stronger in her Cessna.
Example Sentence 2
Checking the report again, the pilot noted /TA 15 during the climb.