The meteorological information and operational information concerning radio navigation services and aerodromes included in the flight information service shall, whenever available, be provided in an operationally integrated form.
These forms can be :
Automatic Terminal Information Service, or ATIS, is a continuous broadcast of recorded aeronautical information in busier airports for Voice-ATIS
ATIS broadcasts contain essential information, such as weather information, active runways, available approaches, NOTAM, and any other information required by the pilots.
Pilots listen to ATIS broadcast information before contacting the local air traffic controller, in order to reduce the controllers' workload and to prepare their flight.
Voice-automatic terminal information service (Voice-ATIS) broadcasts shall be provided at aerodromes where there is a requirement to reduce the communication load on the ATS VHF air-ground communication channels. When provided, they shall comprise:
- one broadcast serving arriving aircraft; or
- one broadcast serving departing aircraft; or
- one broadcast serving both arriving and departing aircraft; or
- two broadcasts serving arriving and departing aircraft respectively at those aerodromes where the length of a broadcast serving both arriving and departing aircraft would be excessively long.
Whenever Voice-ATIS is provided, the broadcast shall be continuous and repetitive.
A discrete VHF frequency shall, whenever practicable, be used for Voice-ATIS broadcasts. If a discrete frequency is not available, the transmission may be made on the voice channel(s) of the most appropriate terminal navigation aid(s), preferably a VOR, provided the range and readability are adequate.
The information contained in the current broadcast shall immediately be made known by the pilot to the ATC controller concerned with the provision to aircraft of information relating to approach, landing and takeoff.
Voice-ATIS broadcasts provided at designated aerodromes for use by international air services shall be available in the English language as a minimum.
Where a D-ATIS supplements the existing availability of Voice-ATIS, the information shall be identical in both content and format to the applicable Voice-ATIS broadcast.
Where a D-ATIS supplements the existing availability of Voice-ATIS and the ATIS requires updating, Voice--ATIS and D-ATIS shall be updated simultaneously.
Whenever Voice-ATIS and/or D-ATIS is provided:
When rapidly changing meteorological conditions make it inadvisable to include a weather report in the ATIS, the ATIS messages shall indicate that the relevant weather information will be given on initial contact with the appropriate ATS unit.
If an aircraft acknowledges receipt of an ATIS that is no longer current, any element of information that needs updating shall be transmitted to the aircraft without delay.
The ATIS change is followed by advancing the alphabetic letter designation. The letter progresses down the alphabet with every update and starts at Alpha after a break in service of 12 hours or more.
ATIS messages containing both arrival and departure information shall contain the following elements of information in the order listed:
The ATIS at an airport is usually given by an automated or recorded voice on a specific VHF frequency or via the vocal channel of a radio-navigation beacon.
Most airports in a certain country will often have the same ATIS format or layout with the same automated voice. In very complex airports, it is possible to have two ATIS frequencies, one for arrivals and one for departures.
ATIS transmissions can be received in a large zone (60NM maximum and 25000ft maximum) and ATIS is unique to each airfield.
This is an example of a real ATIS from Dulles airport.
Example:
DULLES INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION SIERRA.
1300 ZULU
WEATHER MEASURED CEILING THREE THOUSAND OVERCAST.
VISIBILITY THREE, SMOKE.
TEMPERATURE TWO FIVE. DEWPOINT ONE TWO.
WIND THREE FIVE ZERO AT EIGHT.
ALTIMETER TWO NINER NINER TWO.
ILS RUNWAY ONE RIGHT APPROACH IN USE.
LANDING RUNWAY ONE RIGHT AND LEFT, DEPARTURE RUNWAY THREE ZERO.
ARMEL VOR OUT OF SERVICE.
ADVISE YOU HAVE INFORMATION SIERRA.
With the current network limitation, the IVAO network has adapted the ATIS information available for pilots:
Like in real life, pilots shall indicate that he has "information" and the ATIS identification letter to let the controller know that the pilot is up to date with all current information.
In real life, an Area Control Centre controller does not establish ATIS.
In IVAO, the Area Control Centre controller has a small ATIS in order to ensure the system works.
Area Control Centre ATIS in IVAO has:
Example: LFMM_S_CTR > EU9.TS.IVAO.AERO/LFMM_S_CTR
LFMM_S_CTR > MARSEILLE CONTROL
There is no letter designation for an Area Control Centre ATIS.
Elements extracted from this ATIS example:
The controllers engaged to an airfield set their ATIS with the data provided for this specific airfield.
The ATIS linked to an airfield in IVAO has:
Example: LFMN_APP > EU1.TS.IVAO.AERO/LFMN_APP
LFMN_APP > NICE APPROACH INFORMATION HOTEL RECORDED AT 1618Z
LFMN_APP > LFMN 061600Z 24006KT 9999 FEW060 SCT100 12/06 Q1004 NOSIG
LFMN_APP > ARR RWY 04L / DEP RWY 04R / TRL FL60 / TA 5000FT
LFMN_APP > ILS 04L APPROACH IN USE
LFMN_APP > CONFIRM ATIS INFO HOTEL ON INITIAL CONTACT
Elements extracted from this typical ATIS example:
A real life ATIS can be heard here