Automatic terminal information service

Last updated April 13, 2024

Automatic terminal information service, or ATIS, is a continuous broadcast of recorded aeronautical information in busier terminal areas. 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] ATIS was developed and adopted by the FAA in the mid-1960s and internationally (under the direction of ICAO) beginning in 1974. Before the adoption of ATIS, this information was routinely disseminated to each aircraft separately, increasing controller workload during periods of high traffic density.^[2]

In the U.S., ATIS will include (in this order): the airport or facility name; a phonetic letter code; time of the latest weather observation in UTC; weather information, consisting of wind direction and velocity, visibility, obstructions to vision, sky condition, temperature, dew point, altimeter setting, density altitude advisory if appropriate; and other pertinent remarks, including runway in use. If it exists, the weather observation includes remarks of lightning, cumulonimbus, and towering cumulus clouds. Additionally, ATIS may contain man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) alert and advisory, reported unauthorized laser illumination events, instrument or visual approaches in use, departure runways, taxiway closures, new or temporary changes to runway length, runway condition and codes, other optional information, and advisories.

The recording is updated in fixed intervals or when there is a significant change in the information, such as a change in the active runway. It is given a letter designation (alpha, bravo, charlie, etc.) from the ICAO spelling alphabet.^[3] The letter progresses through the alphabet with every update and starts at alpha after a break in service of twelve 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 current information.^[4]

Many airports also employ the use of data-link ATIS (D-ATIS, introduced in 1996^[2]). 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 ^[5] 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	25L (250º)
Circuit direction (general aviation)	right-hand circuit
Wind speed and direction	251º @ 5 kts
Visibility	10 kilometres or more (maximum)
Cloud cover	Few @ 2800 feet and broken @ 5000 feet
Temperature	27 °C
Dew point	26 °C
QNH (pressure @ mean sea level)	1020 - hectoPascals is dictated below 1018 hPa
QFE (pressure @ airfield elevation)	1017 - hectoPascals is dictated below 1080 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

Sample ATIS Message from Amsterdam Schiphol

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Message	Explanation
This is Schiphol arrival information Kilo	Indicates the broadcast is for aircraft inbound to Schiphol, and the bulletin's identification letter
Main landing runway one eight Right	Main 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 50	When descending below Flight Level 50 (equivalent to 5000ft altitude on a standard barometric setting of 1013 hPa), aircraft should set their altimeter to the prevailing barometric pressure (QNH) of the airfield (given later in the ATIS)
Two zero zero degrees, one one knots	Wind direction from azimuth 200 degrees magnetic (south-southwest), average 11 knots
Visibility one zero kilometres	General visibility 10 kilometers or more
Few 1300 feet, scattered 1800 feet, broken 2200 feet	Cloud layers at the indicated altitude above the airport
Temperature one five, dewpoint one three	Temperature and dewpoint in degrees Celsius
QNH niner niner five hectopascal	QNH (barometric pressure adjusted to mean sea level) 995 hectopascal
No significant change	No significant change in weather expected
Contact Approach and Arrival callsign only	When instructed to contact the Approach and Arrival controller, check in with callsign only (for the sake of brevity)
End of information Kilo	End 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.

Sample ATIS Message from London Stansted

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Message	Explanation
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.	Aircraft above Flight Level 65 (6500ft) should set their altimeters to QNH 1013. When descending below, they should set their altimeter to the local QNH given later in the ATIS.
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 1007	The 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.

Example 3

This message was recorded at Manchester International Airport on the 9th of August 2019


Message	Explanation
Manchester departure information papa	Indicates the current information for all departing aircraft from Manchester
Time 1750hrs, automatic	The ATIS was last updated at 16:50 British summer time
Departure runway 23L	The runway in use for departures is 23L
Surface wind 290 9 knots	The wind direction and speed is 290 degrees at 9 knots
Visibility 10 kilometre or more	Visibility is 10 kilometres or more
No cloud detected	No clouds have been detected at the time of the ATIS update
Temperature +17, dewpoint +8	Temperature and the dewpoint in degrees Celsius
QNH 1016	Barometric pressure is 1,016 hectopascals
Increased bird activity has been reported in the vicinity of the airfield	Bird activity around the airfield has increased
Acknowledge receipt of information papa and report aircraft type on first contact with Manchester delivery	Tell the delivery controller that you have made a note of the ATIS when contacting them

Related Research Articles

An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface such as a runway for a plane to take off and to land or a helipad, and often includes adjacent utility buildings such as control towers, hangars and terminals, to maintain and monitor aircraft. Larger airports may have airport aprons, taxiway bridges, air traffic control centres, passenger facilities such as restaurants and lounges, and emergency services. In some countries, the US in particular, airports also typically have one or more fixed-base operators, serving general aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air traffic control</span> Public service provided for the purpose of maintaining the safe and orderly flow of air traffic

Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airspace. The primary purpose of ATC worldwide is to prevent collisions, organize and expedite the flow of air traffic, and provide information and other support for pilots.

The Tenerife airport disaster occurred on March 27, 1977, when two Boeing 747 passenger jets collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport on the Spanish island of Tenerife. The collision occurred when KLM Flight 4805 initiated its takeoff run during dense fog while Pan Am Flight 1736 was still on the runway. The impact and resulting fire killed all on board KLM Flight 4805 and most of the occupants of Pan Am Flight 1736, with only 61 survivors in the front section of the aircraft. With a total of 583 fatalities, the disaster is the deadliest accident in aviation history.

Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Articles related to aviation include:

METAR is a format for reporting weather information. A METAR weather report is predominantly used by aircraft pilots, and by meteorologists, who use aggregated METAR information to assist in weather forecasting. Today, according to the advancement of technology in civil aviation, the METAR is sent as IWXXM model.

A traffic alert and collision avoidance system, is an aircraft collision avoidance system designed to reduce the incidence of mid-air collision (MAC) between aircraft. It monitors the airspace around an aircraft for other aircraft equipped with a corresponding active transponder, independent of air traffic control, and warns pilots of the presence of other transponder-equipped aircraft which may present a threat of MAC. It is a type of airborne collision avoidance system mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization to be fitted to all aircraft with a maximum take-off mass (MTOM) of over 5,700 kg (12,600 lb) or authorized to carry more than 19 passengers. CFR 14, Ch I, part 135 requires that TCAS I be installed for aircraft with 10-30 passengers and TCAS II for aircraft with more than 30 passengers. ACAS/TCAS is based on secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder signals, but operates independently of ground-based equipment to provide advice to the pilot on potentially conflicting aircraft.

In aviation, an instrument approach or instrument approach procedure (IAP) is a series of predetermined maneuvers for the orderly transfer of an aircraft operating under instrument flight rules from the beginning of the initial approach to a landing, or to a point from which a landing may be made visually. These approaches are approved in the European Union by EASA and the respective country authorities and in the United States by the FAA or the United States Department of Defense for the military. The ICAO defines an instrument approach as "a series of predetermined maneuvers by reference to flight instruments with specific protection from obstacles from the initial approach fix, or where applicable, from the beginning of a defined arrival route to a point from which a landing can be completed and thereafter, if landing is not completed, to a position at which holding or en route obstacle clearance criteria apply."

VOLMET, or meteorological information for aircraft in flight, is a worldwide network of radio stations that broadcast TAF, SIGMET and METAR reports on shortwave frequencies, and in some countries on VHF too. Reports are sent in upper sideband mode, using automated voice transmissions.

A flight information service (FIS) is a form of air traffic service which is available to any aircraft within a flight information region (FIR), as agreed internationally by ICAO.

Braking action in aviation is a description of how easily an aircraft can stop after landing on a runway. Either pilots or airport management can report the braking action according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

American Airlines Flight 1572 was a flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Bradley International Airport on November 12, 1995. The McDonnell Douglas MD-83 struck trees and an instrument landing system (ILS) antenna during landing, causing $9 million in damage to the aircraft.

The Future Air Navigation System (FANS) is an avionics system which provides direct data link communication between the pilot and the air traffic controller. The communications include air traffic control clearances, pilot requests and position reporting. In the FANS-B equipped Airbus A320 family aircraft, an Air Traffic Services Unit (ATSU) and a VHF Data Link radio (VDR3) in the avionics rack and two data link control and display units (DCDUs) in the cockpit enable the flight crew to read and answer the controller–pilot data link communications (CPDLC) messages received from the ground.

Portland Airport is located within the locality of Cashmore, 7 nautical miles northwest of Portland, Victoria, Australia. Opened in 1982, the airport is one of only three in the state outside Melbourne to receive regular passenger services, providing an important gateway for southwest Victoria. The airport is home to the Portland Aero Club and is the maintenance base of Sharp Airlines. From 2009 onwards, the Victorian Government contributed funding for works to modernize the airport, including upgrade the airport's aprons, taxiways and terminal building, completed in 2014.

Controller–pilot data link communications (CPDLC), also referred to as controller pilot data link (CPDL), is a method by which air traffic controllers can communicate with pilots over a datalink system.

Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) is an aviation surveillance technology and form of Electronic Conspicuity in which an aircraft determines its position via satellite navigation or other sensors and periodically broadcasts its position and other related data, enabling it to be tracked. The information can be received by air traffic control ground-based or satellite-based receivers as a replacement for secondary surveillance radar (SSR). Unlike SSR, ADS-B does not require an interrogation signal from the ground or from other aircraft to activate its transmissions. ADS-B can also receive point-to-point by other nearby equipped "ADS-B In" equipped aircraft to provide traffic situational awareness and support self-separation. ADS-B is "automatic" in that it requires no pilot or external input to trigger its transmissions. It is "dependent" in that it depends on data from the aircraft's navigation system to provide the transmitted data.

Stevens Field is a public-use, general aviation airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Pagosa Springs in Archuleta County, Colorado, United States. It is publicly owned by Archuleta County. It has no air traffic control tower or commercial passenger services, but it does have a fixed base operator (FBO), and it is popular among light sport and general aviation aircraft doing cross country flights, where the airport serves as an GA-friendly waypoint, refueling stop, and pilot rest/sleep opportunity. Its address is 61 Aviation Ct, Pagosa Springs, CO.

AirNav.com is a privately owned website for pilots and aviation enthusiasts. The site publishes aeronautical and airport information released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) such as runway distances, airfield traffic patterns, airport frequencies, airport operations, facilities and services, chart location, navigational coordinates and locations, radio aids, ownership information and other pertinent information that all pilots need when traveling into or out of an airport or around the United States National Airspace System (NAS). The same information is published in the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), updated every 56 days.

Hamilton Municipal Airport, opened in 1963, is a village-owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) northeast of the central business district of Hamilton, a village in the Town of Hamilton, Madison County, New York, United States.

On July 7, 2017, an Airbus A320-211 operating as Air Canada Flight 759 was nearly involved in an accident at San Francisco International Airport in San Mateo County, California, United States. The flight, which originated at Toronto Pearson International Airport, had been cleared by air traffic control to land on runway 28R and was on final approach to land on that runway; however, instead of lining up with the runway, the aircraft had lined up with the parallel taxiway, on which four fully loaded and fueled passenger airplanes were stopped awaiting takeoff clearance. The flight crew initiated a go-around prior to landing, after which it landed on 28R without further incident. The aircraft on the taxiway departed for their intended destinations without further incident. The subsequent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the Air Canada airplane descended to 59 feet (18 m) above the ground before it began its climb, and that it missed colliding with one of the aircraft on the taxiway by 14 feet (4.3 m).

Airport surveillance and broadcast systems are a set of runway-safety tools that display aircraft on and near an airport.

References

↑ 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.
1 2 "ATIS Archives - AeroSavvy". aerosavvy.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
↑ "Alphabet - Radiotelephony". www.icao.int.
↑ David Harrison (2008). Pilot's Guide to ATC. Trafford Publishing. pp. 276–. ISBN 978-1-4251-3270-5.
↑ "EUROCONTROL - Overview". Archived from the original on 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2012-06-04.

External links

Canada ATIS frequencies
UK ATIS frequencies
Sydney Australia live web-based ATIS
EUROCONTROL > ATM Performance > EATM > ACARS > Overview
Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service (D-ATIS) by ARINC Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service
SkyVector: Flight Planning Abbreviated U.S. airport pop-up ATIS information

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Administration2008-1] 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.

[:0-2] 1 2 "ATIS Archives - AeroSavvy". aerosavvy.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.

[3] "Alphabet - Radiotelephony". www.icao.int.

[Harrison2008-4] David Harrison (2008). Pilot's Guide to ATC. Trafford Publishing. pp. 276–. ISBN 978-1-4251-3270-5.

[5] "EUROCONTROL - Overview". Archived from the original on 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2012-06-04.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]