Automatic terminal information service

Automatic terminal information service, or ATIS, is a continuous broadcast of recorded aeronautical information in busier terminal areas, i.e. airports and their immediate surroundings. ATIS broadcasts contain essential information, such as current weather information, active runways, available approaches, and any other information required by the pilots, such as important NOTAMs. Pilots usually listen to an available ATIS broadcast before contacting the local control unit, which reduces the controllers' workload and relieves frequency congestion.[1]

The recording is updated in fixed intervals or when there is a significant change in the information, e.g. a change in the active runway. It is given a letter designation (e.g. bravo) from the ICAO spelling alphabet.[2] The letter progresses through the alphabet with every update and starts at alpha after a break in service of 12 hours or more. When contacting the local control unit, pilots indicate their information <letter>, where <letter> is the ATIS identification letter of the ATIS transmission the pilot received. This helps the ATC controller verify that the pilot has all current information.[3]

Many airports also employ the use of Data-link ATIS (D-ATIS). D-ATIS is a text-based, digitally transmitted version of the ATIS audio broadcast. It is accessed via a data link service such as the ACARS[4] and displayed on an electronic display in the aircraft. D-ATIS is incorporated on the aircraft as part of its electronic system, such as an EFB or an FMS. D-ATIS may be incorporated into the core ATIS system, or be realized as a separate system with a data interface between voice ATIS and D-ATIS.

Sample messages

Example at a General Aviation airport in the UK (Gloucestershire Airport)

Information Section Details
Airfield this ATIS broadcast is for Gloucester (phonetically GLOSTER)
ICAO spelling alphabet letter Quebec
Time (UTC) 14:20
Runway in use 27 (i.e. 270º)
Circuit direction (general aviation) right-hand circuit
Wind speed and direction 270º @ 2 kts
Visibility 10 kilometres or more (maximum)
Cloud cover Few @ 2600 feet and broken @ 4000 feet
Temperature 19 °C
Dew point 13 °C
QNH (pressure @ sea level) 1020 - hectoPascals is dictated below 1000 hPa
QFE (pressure @ airfield elevation) 1017 - hectoPascals is dictated below 1000 hPa
Other information Request to report altimeter setting in use on first contact.

Noise abatement procedures in effect.

Tower frequency: 122.900 MHz (departing aircraft)

Approach frequency: 128.550 MHz (arriving aircraft)

There is intense gliding activity in the vicinity of the airfield

Instruction to report you have information Quebec

International Airport Example 1

MessageExplanation
This is Schiphol arrival information KiloIndicates the broadcast is for aircraft inbound to Schiphol, and the bulletin's identification letter
Main landing runway 18 RightMain runway used for landing is 18R, which indicates the direction (180 degrees magnetic) and Right implies there are other runways with a similar direction (18L (left), and perhaps others, such as 18C (center))
Transition level 50The aircraft's altimeter is set to a common value of 1013 hPa above the Transition Level, which is at 5000 feet Altitude equivalent to Flight Level 50 in this case. An aircraft climbing through 5000 feet Altitude, would re-set its altimeter to show Flight Level 50, and vice versa for a descending aircraft. Above the Transition Level, the actual prevailing Atmospheric Pressure is abandoned in favour of commonality of altimeter setting in all aircraft.
Two zero zero degrees, one one knotsWind direction from azimuth 200 degrees magnetic (south-southwest), average 11 knots
Visibility 10 kilometresGeneral visibility 10 kilometers or more
Few 1300 feet, scattered 1800 feet, broken 2200 feetCloud layers at the indicated altitude above the airport
Temperature 15, dewpoint 13Temperature and dewpoint in degrees Celsius
QNH 995 hectopascalQNH (barometric pressure adjusted to sea level) 995 hectopascal
No significant changeNo significant change in weather expected
Contact Approach and Arrival callsign onlyWhen instructed to contact the Approach and Arrival controller, check in with callsign only (for the sake of brevity)
End of information KiloEnd of bulletin, and the bulletin's identification letter again

See METAR for a more in-depth explanation of aviation weather messages and terminology.

Example 2

This example was recorded on 11 July 2016 at London Stansted Airport during which time there were ongoing maintenance works taking place on the taxiway surface in a part of the airport near the cargo terminal; the ATIS broadcast reflects this.

MessageExplanation
Stansted information Uniform.Indicates the broadcast is for all aircraft arriving or departing from Stansted, and the bulletin's identification letter.
Time 12:50, automatic.The information and meteorological data was last sampled at 12:50 UTC and that the measurements were made automatically.
Runway in use 22. Runway 22 DRY DRY DRY.Runway 22 is being used for take-offs and landings and that it has dry surface conditions in all three thirds of the runway length.
Ground is open, delivery is closed.The ground controller frequency is open and is manned whilst the IFR clearance delivery frequency is closed and unmanned - clearance requests should be made to the ground controller.
Transition level - flight level 65.The aircraft's altimeter is set to its common value above 6500 feet.
Expect an ILS approach.Expect the approach procedure to be the one published for Runway 22 ILS.
Surface wind 250, 14 knots.Wind direction from azimuth 250 degrees magnetic (west-southwest) with an average windspeed of 14 knots.
Visibility 10 kilometre or more.General visibility 10 kilometers or more.
Scattered 2400 feet, broken 4600 feet.Cloud layers at the indicated altitude above the airport.
Cumulonimbus detected.An observation of cumulonimbus cloud; typically associated with strong turbulence, thunderstorms and lighting; was made.
Temperature +19, dew point +14.Temperature and dewpoint in degrees Celsius.
QNH 1007The airport barometric pressure is 1007 hectopascal.
Work in progress in Apron Alpha - taxiway Juliet closed between Papa and Alpha.There is maintenance work in progress in the Alpha Apron and that a nearby taxiway has been closed.
Acknowledge receipt of information Uniform and advise aircraft type on first contact.When contacting the controller, tell them that you have made note of the details in this ATIS bulletin and give them your aircraft type.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (November 2008). Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual 2009 (FAR/AIM 2009). Skyhorse Publishing Inc. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-1-60239-298-4.
  2. ↑ http://www.icao.int/Pages/AlphabetRadiotelephony.aspx
  3. ↑ David Harrison (2008). Pilot's Guide to ATC. Trafford Publishing. pp. 276–. ISBN 978-1-4251-3270-5.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
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