ATIS and ASOS

[AlexF]

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.

So ATIS basically alleviates some of the controllers workload by not having to say certain things. In specific, I was referring to Henderson Exec airport (KHND) just south west of Las Vegas, I meant to ask them why they didn't have an ATIS when I was there, but they're always just so darn nice that I'm in shock and can't speak.

 

[Timbuff10]

So you guys are saying that some controlled airports don't have ATIS and just have a AWOS/ASOS freq?

I thought all class B C D airports were required to have an ATIS? Or was this one of those towered class G airports?

 

[wheelsup]

So you guys are saying that some controlled airports don't have ATIS and just have a AWOS/ASOS freq?

I thought all class B C D airports were required to have an ATIS? Or was this one of those towered class G airports?

KXNA, Fayetville, Springfield, NW AR Regional Aiport, [insert another name here] has an ASOS but no ATIS, and it is either a class C or D (my $$ is on D).

~wheelsup

 

[jrh]

So you guys are saying that some controlled airports don't have ATIS and just have a AWOS/ASOS freq?

I thought all class B C D airports were required to have an ATIS? Or was this one of those towered class G airports?

To add to what Wheelsup posted, I know that KALW (Walla Walla, WA), KLWS (Lewiston, ID), KTTD (Portland-Troutdale, OR), and KPDT (Pendleton, OR) are all Class D airports that do not have ATIS, only automated weather. I thought it was fairly common to have towered airports without ATIS.

 

[Timbuff10]

Wow, cool I didn't know controlled airports were out there that didn't have ATIS...

So what do you do when you call up ground? Repeat the main weather info or I guess it would probably be easier to just say "we have the current weather"?

I need to get out more!

 

[jrh]

So what do you do when you call up ground? Repeat the main weather info or I guess it would probably be easier to just say "we have the current weather"?

I've actually talked to the controllers at a Class D airport about that. The only phrase they can accept is if the pilot specifically uses the words "have numbers" or "have the numbers." It's listed in the pilot/controller glossary as indicating you have the current runway, wind, and altimeter information.

Otherwise, even if you say something like "with the weather," they must read you the wind, altimeter, and runway.

The radio transmissions would go something like this:

"Lewiston Ground, Cessna 12345, at the transient ramp, ready to taxi for a north departure."
"Cessna 12345, Lewiston Ground, wind 250 at 7, altimeter 29.92, taxi to runway 29."

or

"Lewiston Ground, Cessna 12345, at the transient ramp, have the numbers, ready to taxi for a north departure."
"Cessna 12345, Lewiston Ground, taxi to runway 29."

As long as it's a nice day, I don't bother to listen to the automated weather. I just listen to whatever the controller reads me. The exception would be on days in the summer when I want to know what the density altitude is, then I'll listen to the automated system.

 

[Timbuff10]

Interesting... I fly out of a class D airport that has an ATIS and I remember one day on our way back to the airport my student and I heard a guy call up and say "with the numbers". I proceeded to tell my student never to be that lazy and to do it the right way. Now I am thinking he is probably just some guy coming from one of those airports.

 

[Persian_Pilot]

So then why do some controlled airports have an ASOS only and no ATIS?

I think It really depends to the Airport It self. I fly out of SLC International and we have both ATIS and ASOS. Since ATIS comes first I only listen to ATIS to get the infromation that I need.

But I think In general most controled Airports have ATIS. Like I said It really depends to the airport it self but if they have both, you only need to listen to ATIS ( However I was told that ATIS gets updated once an hour but ASOS gets updated faster,)

 

[bike21]

I need to get out more!

Ha! Me too! Did you know there was such thing as sliced bread?!

Ok, lame attempt...not enough coffee yet this morning

 

[bob loblaw]

Interesting... I fly out of a class D airport that has an ATIS and I remember one day on our way back to the airport my student and I heard a guy call up and say "with the numbers". I proceeded to tell my student never to be that lazy and to do it the right way. Now I am thinking he is probably just some guy coming from one of those airports.

I use that term after forgetting the phonetic alphabet identifier for the ATIS I just listened to. If I am familiar with the airport, I only want to know the wind direction and speed, altimeter, and runway in use. If I am unfamiliar with the airport, I listen to the complete ATIS and write down the info and Identifier.

 

[bob loblaw]

I think It really depends to the Airport It self. I fly out of SLC International and we have both ATIS and ASOS. Since ATIS comes first I only listen to ATIS to get the infromation that I need.

But I think In general most controled Airports have ATIS. Like I said It really depends to the airport it self but if they have both, you only need to listen to ATIS ( However I was told that ATIS gets updated once an hour but ASOS gets updated faster,)

The ATIS gets updated anytime a change in weather occurs. On some days, the ATIS may change three to four times in an hour.

 

[Persian_Pilot]

The ATIS gets updated anytime a change in weather occurs. On some days, the ATIS may change three to four times in an hour.

Thank you sir

 

[Timbuff10]

If I am familiar with the airport, I only want to know the wind direction and speed, altimeter, and runway in use.

So all other information is uselss at that point huh? Are you the same guy that wrote that article in the onion? Don't forget those NOTAMs they put at the end of the ATIS... Those can be helpful too. If you don't listen to the entire ATIS can you legally say that you have information Hotel or whatever letter it is on?

OK, I'm done being picky.

 

[Timbuff10]

Ha! Me too! Did you know there was such thing as sliced bread?!

Ok, lame attempt...not enough coffee yet this morning

Hey Nick,

Now I remember, I was with you and that guy that is a controller at DIA. We were in the 182 and I was backseating when we came back to Jeffco and that guy called up tower talking about having the numbers. We called him an "old timer" and made fun of him a bit.

 

[bob loblaw]

So all other information is uselss at that point huh? Are you the same guy that wrote that article in the onion? Don't forget those NOTAMs they put at the end of the ATIS... Those can be helpful too. If you don't listen to the entire ATIS can you legally say that you have information Hotel or whatever letter it is on?

OK, I'm done being picky.

Yes, I can legally say I have the information. This is why I said if it is an airport I am familiar with which means I depart from the same airport everyday, I am familiar with all the notams for that airport. If I am going to an unfamiliar airport, I will review all the notams prior to departing for that airport.

I don't know what article you are talking about, but I am familiar with the spoof paper Onion.

 

[bike21]

Yeah, 'the numbers' has never jived with me. I remember ol' Dan and his ol' ways. I fixed him right up!

Bob - I know it's easy to fall into the habit of just getting enough of the ATIS, but I always taught and practiced getting the whole thing. Cause you never know! Things can change pretty quick as you know.

 

[Timbuff10]

"Thanks for the bruises and you can keep the stool samples!" - Emmett Fitz-Hume .

Spies Like Us!

HA! I love it... "what does KGB stand for?" It sounds like you would pass the "Stock/Gillan test" with ease.

 

[bike21]

Sweet! I was wondering who might pick up on that one! Kind of a random quote

"Well of course their requests for subsidies was not paraguayan in and of it is as it were the United States government would never have if the president, our president, had not and as far as I know that's the way it will always be. Is that clear? "