What is the minimum requirement for a PIREP to be considered as a reliable source for icing information?

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A PIREP (Pilot Report) is a key tool for disseminating real-time weather information, especially regarding icing conditions. For a PIREP to be regarded as a reliable source for icing information, providing a clear altitude reference is essential. This detail allows meteorologists and air traffic controllers to accurately assess the conditions and determine at what flight levels the icing is occurring.

When a pilot reports icing, knowing the altitude helps other pilots in the vicinity to decide whether to change altitude to avoid similar conditions. Without a clear altitude reference, the information may be ambiguous and less useful for operational decision-making.

While other factors, such as timeliness, the number of reports, and visual confirmation may enhance the reliability of the information, the clear altitude reference is fundamental for it to be considered credible and actionable for those who rely on PIREPs for safety-critical decisions. Not providing an altitude reference could lead to misjudgments about where icing is occurring, which can be dangerous in flight planning and operations.

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