Dear Pilots,
My name is Roy Kronenfeld and I am the owner of the FREE iOS app “PIREP Pro”.
About a year ago, I was stuck in traffic on my way home, so I took my iPhone, opened the app “Waze”, and reported on traffic so drivers nearby will be aware of the traffic (I hope you are familiar with Waze). As I did that, I asked myself, what if I had the option to issue a pilot report straight from my iPad/iPhone with the same manner?
Then, PIREP Pro came into the picture. For the last 9 months I have been developing PIREP Pro which provides pilots with the option to read and share pilot reports with only few click while using a simple user-friendly interface. The app was released two weeks ago and is free for download in the App Store. PIREP Pro already welcomed more than 1500 active pilots.
Today, the PIREP concept is almost unknown among pilots in Europe. That said, by using PIREP Pro, there is a good chance of bringing a new habit of issuing pilot reports in Europe. A step that would dramatically increase the flight safety and sky awareness.
Please refer to the following article: http://myclimbrate.com/2013/12/04/pireps-for-europe/
PIREP Pro official website: http://www.PirepPro.com
PIREP Pro in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pirep-pro/id741711908?mt=8
Thanks,
Roy Kronenfeld*
[posted with admin permission – Peter]
Good job. I hope you will be able to port it to Android soon.
Today, the PIREP concept is almost unknown among pilots in Europe.
pffiiieeww
who says?
http://www.eddh.de/info/pireps.html
is full of pirep’s. And please don’t come bloating that it is not in your language.
I appreciate the job you are doing, but please do not pretend you are the inventor of hot water.
I think you are talking about different kinds of PIREP.
If that be sooth, more distinct terminology is required. Admittedly, this is not uncommon when talking across the big pond.
Jan, I may be missing something because I unfortunately only speak English, but having a quick look through your link suggests a different type of ‘PIREP’ than what I know. To me a PIREP is a PIlot REPort of things like windshear, turbulence, icing etc in an area. I think of it similar to radio stations who let drivers phone in to explain where traffic jams and accidents are on the road so other drivers can avoid them.
Europe may have websites that carry PIREPs but it does not have a system whereby ATC have access to them, nor is there a system for pilots to access them – short of using a satellite phone based airborne internet facility to access the data.
I can’t think of an easy solution to it; the high cost of satcomms will always be a limiting factor, limiting the potential customer base for most airborne products to people willing to pay perhaps several tens of € per month.
To some pilots that is nothing but to most it is quite a lot, especially as the biggest spenders fly mostly IFR at high altitude – but at altitudes well below the jets – where there is almost no other traffic that is likely to be reporting on weather.
Pirep stands for “Pilot’s report” and that’s all there is to it. I was (and am) much annoyed with this newcomer narrowing down the term “pirep” to “real time weather pirep” then condescending to our not having them in Europe. For one more example of the more general meaning of the term, one can check a discussion on another well-known pilot’s forum, especially entry #43 whose author might be known to some: http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/285972-european-ppr-disease-3.html
Some light is shed by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIREP but be aware that the article clearly states it tells about USA and Canada only AND warns that its sources are shaky.
I have to say that PIREP to me means a formal PIREP reported to ATC and available either from the ground a la USA or from controllers.
I am not sure an App based PIREP system will realistically ever have enough data points to bother with. If it did it could be useful.
