Use the ATIS, where available, to provide advance non-control
airport/terminal area and meteorological information to aircraft.
{New-98-3 Revised February 26, 1998}
a. Identify each ATIS message by a phonetic letter code word
at both the beginning and the end of the message. Automated systems will
have the phonetic letter code automatically appended. Exceptions may be
made where omissions are required because of special programs or equipment.
1. Each alphabet letter phonetic word shall be used sequentially,
except as authorized in subparagraph a2, beginning with "Alpha," ending
with "Zulu," and repeated without regard to the beginning of a new day.
Identify the first resumed broadcast message with "Alpha" or the first
assigned alphabet letter word in the event of a broadcast interruption
of more than 12 hours.
2. Specific sequential portions of the alphabet may be assigned
between facilities or an arrival and departure ATIS when designated by
a Letter of Agreement or facility directive.
{New-98-3 Revised February 26, 1998}
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7210.3, Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS),
paragraph 10-4-1.
b. The ATIS recording shall be reviewed for completeness, accuracy,
speech rate, and proper enunciation before being transmitted.
c. Arrival and departure messages, when broadcast separately,
need only contain information appropriate for that operation.
Maintain an ATIS message that reflects the most current arrival
and departure information.
a. Make a new recording when any of the following occur:
1. Upon receipt of any new official weather regardless of whether
there is or is not a change in values.
2. When runway braking action reports are received that indicate
runway braking is worse than that which is included in the current ATIS
broadcast.
3. When there is a change in any other pertinent data, such
as runway change, instrument approach in use, new or canceled NOTAMs/PIREPs/HIWAS
Update etc.
b. When a pilot acknowledges that he has received the ATIS broadcast,
controllers may omit those items contained in the broadcasts if they are
current. Rapidly changing conditions will be issued by ATC, and the ATIS
will contain the following:
EXAMPLE -
"Latest ceiling/visibility/altimeter/wind/(other conditions) will be
issued by approach control/tower."
c. Broadcast on all appropriate frequencies to advise aircraft
of a change in the ATIS code/message.
d. Controllers shall ensure that pilots receive the most current
pertinent information. Ask the pilot to confirm receipt of the current
ATIS information if the pilot does not initially state the appropriate
ATIS code. Controllers shall ensure that changes to pertinent operational
information is provided after the initial confirmation of ATIS information
is established. Issue the current weather, runway in use, approach information,
and pertinent NOTAMs to pilots who are unable to receive the ATIS.
EXAMPLE -
"Verify you have information ALPHA."
"Information BRAVO now current, visibility three miles."
"Information CHARLIE now current, Measured Ceiling 1500 Broken."
Include the following in ATIS broadcast as appropriate:
{New-98-3 Revised February 26, 1998}
a. Airport/facility name, phonetic letter code, time of weather
sequence (UTC). Weather information consisting of ceiling, visibility,
obstructions to vision, temperature, dew point, wind direction and velocity,
altimeter, a density altitude advisory when appropriate, and other pertinent
remarks included in the official weather observation. Wind direction, velocity,
and altimeter shall be reported from certified direct reading instruments.
Temperature and dew point should be reported from certified direct reading
sensors when available. Always include weather observation remarks of lightning,
cumulonimbus, and towering cumulus clouds.
NOTE -
ASOS/AWOS is to be considered the primary source of wind direction,
velocity, and altimeter data at those locations that are so equipped. The
ASOS Operator Interface Device (OID) displays the magnetic wind as "MAG
WND" in the auxiliary data location in the lower left hand portion of the
screen. Other OID displayed winds are true and are not to be used for operational
purposes.
b. The ceiling/sky condition, visibility, and obstructions to
vision may be omitted if the ceiling is above 5,000 feet and the visibility
is more than 5 miles.
EXAMPLE -
A remark may be made, "The weather is better than five thousand and
five."
c. Instrument/visual approach/s in use. Specify landing runway/s
unless the runway is that to which the instrument approach is made.
d. Departure runway/s (to be given only if different from landing
runway/s or in the instance of a "departure only" ATIS).
{New-98-3 Revised February 26, 1998}
e. Taxiway closures which affect the entrance or exit of active
runways, other closures which impact airport operations, other NOTAM's
and PIREP's pertinent to operations in the terminal area. Inform pilots
of where hazardous weather is occurring and how the information may be
obtained. Include available information of known bird activity.
{New-98-3 Added February 26, 1998}
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Bird Activity Information, Paragraph 2-1-22.
f. Runway braking action or friction reports when provided. Include
the time of the report and a word describing the cause of the runway friction
problem.
PHRASEOLOGY -
RUNWAY (number) MU (first value, second value, third value) AT (time),
(cause).
EXAMPLE -
"RUNWAY TWO SEVEN, MU FORTY-TWO, FORTY-ONE, TWENTY-EIGHT AT ONE ZERO
ONE EIGHT ZULU, ICE."
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Braking Action Advisories, paragraph 3-3-5.
{New-98-3 Revised February 26, 1998}
g. Other optional information as local conditions dictate in
coordination with ATC. This may include such items as VFR arrival frequencies,
temporary airport conditions, LAHSO operations being conducted, or other
perishable items that may appear only for a matter of hours or a few days
on the ATIS message.
h. Low Level windshear (LLWS) when reported by pilots or is detected
on a low level windshear alert system (LLWAS).
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Low Level Windshear Advisories, paragraph 3-1-8.
i. A statement which advises the pilot to read back instructions
to hold short of a runway. The air traffic manager may elect to remove
this requirement 60 days after implementation provided that removing the
statement from the ATIS does not result in increased requests from aircraft
for readback of hold short instructions.
j. Instructions for the pilot to acknowledge receipt of the ATIS
message by informing the controller on initial contact.
EXAMPLE -
"Boston Tower information Delta. One four zero zero Zulu. Wind two
five zero at one zero. Visibility one zero. Ceiling four thousand five
hundred broken. Temperature three four. Dew point two eight. Altimeter
three zero one zero. ILS-DME Runway Two Seven Approach in use. Departing
Runway Two Two Right. Hazardous Weather Information for (geographical area)
available on HIWAS, Flight Watch or Flight Service Frequencies. Advise
on initial contact you have Delta."