14 CFR 91.183 — IFR Communications and Position Reports (Explained)

What does 14 CFR 91.183 actually say?

14 CFR 91.183 contains three subsections. The opening sentence of the regulation establishes the continuous-watch requirement: unless otherwise authorized by ATC, the PIC of each aircraft operated under IFR in controlled airspace must ensure that a continuous watch is maintained on the appropriate frequency. The three reporting duties then follow.

The structure is intentionally simple: ATC needs to know where you are, what the weather is doing, and anything else that affects safety. The regulation does not enumerate the content of a position report — that detail comes from the AIM.

When are position reports required — and when are they not?

14 CFR 91.183(a) requires position reports at designated reporting points unless ATC instructs otherwise. In practice, the key phrase is "unless otherwise authorized by ATC."

When ATC has radar contact and advises you of that fact, you are relieved of the duty to make compulsory position reports at charted fixes. The radar picture replaces the verbal report. This is the standard in most of the contiguous United States, where radar coverage is near-complete in the en route environment. However, the (b) and (c) duties — unforecast weather and safety reports — are not relieved by radar contact. Those reporting requirements apply regardless of radar environment.

Position reports become operationally mandatory in three situations:

• Non-radar environment: any time ATC does not have radar contact, you must make position reports at every compulsory reporting point on the route.
• ATC-requested reports: ATC may request a position report at any fix, compulsory or not, even in a radar environment — comply immediately.
• Lost communications: if you lose two-way comms and are operating under 14 CFR 91.185, position reporting resumes its full weight once comms are restored.

What are compulsory vs. non-compulsory reporting points?

Compulsory reporting points are fixes where position reports are required without an explicit ATC request. The distinction is shown graphically on IFR en route (low and high altitude) charts. Per the AIM Chapter 5, Section 3, compulsory reporting points are depicted as solid (filled) triangles on en route charts. Non-compulsory (on-request) reporting points are depicted as open (unfilled) triangles.

A fix may be a compulsory reporting point on some airways and non-compulsory on others, depending on how the route is structured. The chart symbol at the specific point on the specific airway is the controlling reference — not the name of the fix alone.

What items must a position report contain?

The content of a position report is specified in AIM paragraph 5-3-2, not in 91.183 itself. The FAR only requires reporting time and altitude; the AIM defines the full standard that ATC expects. A complete position report contains 8 items:

1. 1
   Identification — your aircraft call sign (e.g., 'Cessna 12345').
2. 2
   Position — the name of the reporting point you are over or abeam.
3. 3
   Time — the actual time of passing the fix, in UTC (Zulu).
4. 4
   Altitude or flight level — your current assigned and maintained altitude.
5. 5
   Type of flight plan — IFR (confirm you are still on an IFR clearance).
6. 6
   ETA and name of the next reporting point — the next compulsory fix and your estimated time over it.
7. 7
   Name of the next succeeding reporting point — the fix after the next one (gives ATC a picture two fixes ahead).
8. 8
   Pertinent remarks — any information required under 91.183(b) or (c), or that ATC otherwise needs.

A useful mnemonic is PT-ATAN-R: Position, Time, Altitude, Type of flight plan, ATA (next fix name + ETA), Next succeeding fix, Remarks. The AIM is the authoritative source for this list — practice it verbatim so the DPE hears the correct answer without hesitation.

What must you report under 91.183(b) — unforecast weather?

14 CFR 91.183(b) requires reporting any unforecast weather conditions encountered as soon as possible. The word "unforecast" is the operative term — if the weather was in the area forecast or SIGMET, it is not strictly required under (b), though you may still file a PIREP voluntarily.

Conditions that trigger a mandatory (b) report include:

• Moderate or severe icing that was not forecast for the route.
• Moderate or severe turbulence not forecast for the altitude and route.
• Wind shear not depicted in the Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) or winds aloft forecast.
• Precipitation types or intensities inconsistent with the forecast.
• Volcanic ash or dust clouds not forecast.

The report is made on the current assigned ATC frequency. Format: aircraft identification, position, altitude, and a description of the condition. ATC will convert it to a PIREP and distribute it through the aviation weather system.

What must you report under 91.183(c) — safety-of-flight information?

14 CFR 91.183(c) is a broad catch-all: "any other information relating to the safety of flight." This subsection ensures that pilots have a regulatory basis — and duty — to report anything that could affect other aircraft or ATC decision-making, even if it does not fit neatly into a weather report.

Examples of 91.183(c) reports:

• Navigation equipment failure or degradation (though 91.187 also applies when the failure impairs IFR capability — see below).
• Near-midair collision (NMAC) — report immediately; ATC will initiate an incident notification.
• Hazardous runway or taxiway conditions observed at the departure airport.
• Airspace or facility anomalies (e.g., a VOR that appears to be off-frequency).
• Any emergency that does not rise to a 7700 squawk but is still operationally relevant.

How does 91.183 relate to the equipment malfunction reporting requirement in 91.187?

14 CFR 91.187(a) specifically addresses navigational, approach, and communication equipment malfunctions in controlled airspace: the PIC must report any such malfunction to ATC as soon as practical. This is a separate, more specific duty from 91.183(c).

The 91.187 report must include four specific items per 91.187(b):

1. 1
   Aircraft identification.
2. 2
   Equipment affected.
3. 3
   Degree to which the pilot's capability to operate under IFR in the ATC system is impaired.
4. 4
   Nature and extent of assistance desired from ATC.

Think of 91.183(c) as the general duty and 91.187 as the specific rule that applies when your IFR equipment degrades. Both can apply simultaneously: you report under 91.183(c) because it is safety-relevant, and under 91.187 because it is an equipment malfunction in controlled airspace. For the checkride, the DPE will often ask for both section numbers.

How does 91.183 connect to the IFR clearance requirement in 91.173?

14 CFR 91.173 requires that no person may operate an aircraft in controlled airspace under IFR unless they have filed an IFR flight plan and received an appropriate ATC clearance. Once that clearance is issued and you enter controlled airspace, the 91.183 communication duties activate and remain in effect until the clearance is cancelled or the flight terminates.

The logical chain is: 91.173 grants entry to the IFR system; 91.183 defines the ongoing communication obligations within it; 91.185 defines what to do when that communication link fails; and 91.187 closes the loop by requiring reports when equipment that supports the communication link fails. DPEs test these four sections as a set precisely because they form a coherent regulatory framework.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When are position reports required under 14 CFR 91.183?

Under 14 CFR 91.183(a), you must report the time and altitude of passing each designated reporting point — or the reporting points specified by ATC — unless operating in a radar environment where ATC has relieved you of that duty. In practice, position reports are most common on non-radar routes and oceanic or remote segments.

Q: What are compulsory reporting points and how do you identify them on a chart?

Compulsory reporting points are fixes at which pilots must report position to ATC without a specific request. They are identified on en route charts as solid (filled) triangles per the AIM Chapter 5, Section 3. Non-compulsory (on-request) reporting points are shown as open (unfilled) triangles.

Q: What are the required items in a position report?

Per AIM 5-3-2, a position report must include: (1) identification, (2) position, (3) time, (4) altitude or flight level, (5) type of flight plan (IFR), (6) ETA and name of next reporting point, (7) name of the next succeeding reporting point, and (8) pertinent remarks. This 8-item list is the AIM standard, not a 91.183 requirement.

Q: What does 14 CFR 91.183(b) require?

14 CFR 91.183(b) requires the PIC to report any unforecast weather conditions encountered as soon as possible. This includes unexpected icing, turbulence, wind shear, or precipitation that was not forecast for the route segment. The report goes to ATC on the current assigned frequency.

Q: What does 14 CFR 91.183(c) require?

14 CFR 91.183(c) requires the PIC to report any other information relating to the safety of flight as soon as possible. This is a catch-all: equipment anomalies, near-midair collisions, PIREP-worthy conditions, or any hazard ATC needs to know about to protect you and other aircraft.

Q: Does 14 CFR 91.183 apply in radar-controlled environments?

Yes, but ATC may relieve you of position-reporting duties under 91.183(a). When ATC has radar contact and informs you, you are no longer required to make compulsory position reports at charted reporting points. However, the (b) weather reports and (c) safety reports still apply at all times regardless of radar contact.

Q: What is the relationship between 91.183 and 91.187?

14 CFR 91.183 covers ongoing IFR communications — position, weather, and safety reports during normal flight. 14 CFR 91.187 covers equipment malfunction reports specifically: when a navigational, approach, or communication device fails in controlled airspace, the PIC must report it under 91.187 with a specific four-item report content required by 91.187(b).

Q: What happens if you fail to make a required position report?

Missing a compulsory position report is a deviation from IFR procedures and can trigger a controller alert. ATC may initiate a radio check, alert the ARTCC, or activate search procedures if the aircraft is overdue. It is an FAA regulatory violation under 14 CFR 91.183 and a testable topic on the Instrument Rating oral exam.

Sources

• 14 CFR 91.183 — IFR Communications (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.185 — IFR Two-Way Radio Communications Failure (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.187 — IFR Malfunction Reports (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.173 — ATC Clearance and Flight Plan Required (Cornell LII)
• AIM Chapter 5 Section 3 — En Route Procedures (Position Reporting)
• FAA Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15B

This article was researched from FAA primary sources (14 CFR Part 91 via Cornell LII, AIM Chapter 5, Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15B) and citing current regulatory text — drafted by MockDPE. Last updated: May 2026. If you spot an inaccuracy, email corrections@mockdpe.org.