Narrative:

Flight was transiting a SIGMET area of reported moderate to severe turbulence in the vicinity of 54N 50W. For approximately 30-40 mins we encountered turbulence that I would characterize as being in the upper end of a range that would be considered moderate. A couple of times for a few seconds the turbulence increased to a level I considered to be at the lower end of the severe range. I recall my first officer stating that he was not sure we had crossed the line from moderate to severe. There were a number of other aircraft in the area that were giving turbulence reports, which included intensity of turbulence, position and altitude. These reports help everyone in the area determine when, where and at what altitude they might encounter such turbulence. Most of the reports indicated continuous moderate turbulence, however, one aircraft reported as I did that the turbulence was moderate and very occasionally severe. Another aircraft called it approaching severe. I did not think the turbulence we encountered was severe enough to damage the aircraft or warrant after flight log entry or inspection. The line between turbulence intensities, although defined is still a subjective judgement by individual pilots. The report I made was intended to more accurately identify for the pilots in the area, the intensity of the turbulence we were experiencing as being at the upper end of moderate and perhaps occasionally crossing into the lower end of severe. I did not know or recall that using the word severe in any context would require a log entry and aircraft inspection. I was informed of this requirement by telephone of feb/xa/01.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A330 ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB IN CZQX OCEANIC.

Narrative: FLT WAS TRANSITING A SIGMET AREA OF RPTED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB IN THE VICINITY OF 54N 50W. FOR APPROX 30-40 MINS WE ENCOUNTERED TURB THAT I WOULD CHARACTERIZE AS BEING IN THE UPPER END OF A RANGE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED MODERATE. A COUPLE OF TIMES FOR A FEW SECONDS THE TURB INCREASED TO A LEVEL I CONSIDERED TO BE AT THE LOWER END OF THE SEVERE RANGE. I RECALL MY FO STATING THAT HE WAS NOT SURE WE HAD CROSSED THE LINE FROM MODERATE TO SEVERE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OTHER ACFT IN THE AREA THAT WERE GIVING TURB RPTS, WHICH INCLUDED INTENSITY OF TURB, POS AND ALT. THESE RPTS HELP EVERYONE IN THE AREA DETERMINE WHEN, WHERE AND AT WHAT ALT THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER SUCH TURB. MOST OF THE RPTS INDICATED CONTINUOUS MODERATE TURB, HOWEVER, ONE ACFT RPTED AS I DID THAT THE TURB WAS MODERATE AND VERY OCCASIONALLY SEVERE. ANOTHER ACFT CALLED IT APCHING SEVERE. I DID NOT THINK THE TURB WE ENCOUNTERED WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO DAMAGE THE ACFT OR WARRANT AFTER FLT LOG ENTRY OR INSPECTION. THE LINE BTWN TURB INTENSITIES, ALTHOUGH DEFINED IS STILL A SUBJECTIVE JUDGEMENT BY INDIVIDUAL PLTS. THE RPT I MADE WAS INTENDED TO MORE ACCURATELY IDENT FOR THE PLTS IN THE AREA, THE INTENSITY OF THE TURB WE WERE EXPERIENCING AS BEING AT THE UPPER END OF MODERATE AND PERHAPS OCCASIONALLY XING INTO THE LOWER END OF SEVERE. I DID NOT KNOW OR RECALL THAT USING THE WORD SEVERE IN ANY CONTEXT WOULD REQUIRE A LOG ENTRY AND ACFT INSPECTION. I WAS INFORMED OF THIS REQUIREMENT BY TELEPHONE OF FEB/XA/01.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.