ATIS and ASOS

nkoenig said:
What's the difference?
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ATIS : Controled Airports

ASOS : None controled Airports

I think the biggest difference is that ATIS gives you the information word. ( Advice on intial contact you have information ..... ) But ASOS just gives you the wind , altimeter and clouds information ,
 
So the AWOS gets no love here? I mean there are like 5 different kinds of AWOSes.

Did you guys know that the ASOS is where the forecasters get the info so that TAFs can be made?
 
I fly out of a controlled airport KSGR and whenever im ready to taxi I tell ATC Im ready blah blah with ASOS which is how I was taught but these services all seem to mean the same thing and I was trying to figure out a way to keep them seperated.
 
As many have already stated, ATIS is at controlled fields. Comparing ATIS to ASOS is a little like comparing apples to oranges, though. ATIS, according to the AIM, is the repeated broadcast of non-control information. This is information concerning the operations and procedures at a controlled field. ATIS includes weather info, but it is mostly a "bulletin" of what and how is going on at the certain airport. It includes runway in use, instrument approach(es) being used, NOTAMs, sometimes departure proceudres for VFR guys, and the like. ASOS is merely an automated weather observing station. Many controlled fields also have an ASOS.
 
Great links JEP! Also check out the AIM section 7-1-12 (page 777 in the 2005 version) there is a great table and further explanations of the different systems.
 
bike21 said:
Great links JEP! Also check out the AIM section 7-1-12 (page 777 in the 2005 version) there is a great table and further explanations of the different systems.
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Um, I'm willing to bet that the page number you gave is only applicable to a specific re-publisher of the AIM, unless, of course, you have the official government loose-leaf subscription and assume other have the same.
 
if you take the question a step further, you will also notice a difference between ASOS and METARs; one reports wind direction in reference to true north, the other magnetic :) I'll let you look up which is which
 
ASOS- Automated Surface Observing System; the primary U.S. surface weather observing system. Up to 993 systems installed throughout the U.S. providing minute by minute observations generating METARs/ATIS and other aviation weather information. Transmitted over a discrete VHF radio frequency or the voice portion of a local NAV AID. ASOS includes the prefix AUTO in the report data. NOTAMS also posted.

ATIS- Automatic Terminal Information Service is continuous broadcast of recorded non control information in selected high activity terminal areas. Its purpose is to improve controller effectiveness and to relieve frequency congestion by automating the repetitive transmission of essential but routine information. Information provided by the ATIS includes; ceiling and visibility, temperature, dew point, wind direction and more.

In lame terms its basiclly the same but one is recored by a human, the other is automated
 
GreenDayPilot said:
so what's the difference between ASOS and AWOS? Is it like saying PC and Mac or what?
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Think of it like this. ASOS does alot more than the AWOS. There are several different kinds of AWOS starting with a basic one then each kind adds another tool of measurement to its capabilities.

Even the best AWOS does not give you as much information as a ASOS.

At uncontrolled fields it is a good idea to listen to the AWOS or ASOS frequency during the preflight and before you takeoff.

At controlled airports, I think they all have an ASOS (or at least an AWOS) and every hour, the tower folks kindly take that information and add some current airport information which makes it the ATIS.

In the AFD it lists the phone # where you can actually call the AWOS/ASOS/ATIS if the airport has one.
 
AWOS- Automated Weather Observing System; consists of various sensors, processor, a computer generated voice subsystem, and a transmitter to broadcast local, minute by minute weather data directly to the pilot. Observations will include the prefix AUTO in data. Four different types; Alfa, 1, 2, and 3. AWOS Alfa only reports altimeter setting. AWOS 1 reports altimere settings, wind data, temperature, dew point, and desity alt. AWOS 2 reports everyting in AWOS 1 plus visibility, and finally AWOS 3 reports everything in AWOS 2 plus cloud/ceiling data
 
AlexF said:
So then why do some controlled airports have an ASOS only and no ATIS?
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What he stated was incorrect.

Some podunk airports need not record an ATIS, when all that would be on there is the weather from the ASOS anyways. The controller will give you any other pertinant information on an individual basis.
 
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