Which weather hazard may affect Airways when PIREPs are requested?

The correct answer is related to volcanic ash clouds, which pose a significant threat to aircraft operations, particularly along airways. When volcanic eruptions occur, ash clouds can be released into the atmosphere, drifting along airways and affecting flight safety. Pilots are trained to recognize and report these hazards through Pilot Reports (PIREPs) to alert air traffic controllers and other pilots in the vicinity.

Volcanic ash can damage engines, decrease visibility, and severely disrupt flight paths, making it critical for air traffic operations to monitor and respond to these hazards. Accurate PIREPs regarding volcanic ash are essential for ensuring safe navigation and operational procedures within affected airways, as this information helps to reroute flights or adjust altitudes to avoid the ash.

In contrast, sunlight glare, wind shear, and precipitation, while they can impact flight safety and operations, do not specifically necessitate PIREPs in the same context related to airways. Sunlight glare is more subjective and often does not cover large areas like ash clouds can. Wind shear, while dangerous, is usually reported in terms of specific microenvironments rather than along entire airways. Precipitation, while it can affect visibility and aircraft performance, does not pose the same level of long-range threat