Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) Background Information
The ATIS broadcasts are used by airports to notify arriving and departing pilots of the current surface weather
conditions, landing and departing runways, runway and taxiway conditions, communication frequencies and other
information of importance to arriving and departing aircraft.
The broadcasts are updated as weather and runway conditions change. Each broadcast
is identified by a sequential letter of the alphabet and referred to using the
phonetic alphabet pronunciation of that letter.
ATIS broadcasts originate from most major airports. The frequency can be found on any aeronautical chart next to
the symbol for the airport. If an ATIS exists, the frequency will be shown next to the letters "ATIS". You
can find the Cleveland Hopkins ATIS frequency (127.85 MHz) from a closeup of the Detroit Aeronautical Sectional Chart.
- From the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), ATIS is defined as:
-
"The continuous broadcast of recorded noncontrol information in selected terminal areas. Its purpose is to
improve controller effectiveness and to relieve frequency congestion by automating the repetitive transmission
of essential but routine information."
Recording of an ATIS Broadcast
Try your hand at this recording of an ATIS broadcast {420 kb .wav file} from the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The transcript and summary of information is provided below.
Note: The format of the ATIS broadcasts have changed since this page was created. While similar, this example does not depict the current ATIS broadcasts.
Text of the ATIS Broadcast
"Cleveland Hopkins Information India,
1755 Zulu Automated Weather
Wind 260 at 15 gust 19
Visibility 6, light snow
2,600 broken, 3,500 overcast
Temperature -5
Dewpoint -11
Altimeter 2999
ILS runway 23 left approach in use
Landing runway 23 left
Departing runway 23 right
Notice to airmen, runway 18 closed
Readback all runway assignments and hold short instructions
Use caution for birds in the vicinity of the active runway
Advise the controller on initial contact, you have India"
Summary of the ATIS Broadcast
| Topic
| Example
|
| ATIS information identifier letter
| Information India
|
| Time of Report
| 1755 Zulu
|
| Wind Direction/Speed
| 260 at 15 gusting to 19
|
| Visibility
| 6 miles, light snow
|
| Ceiling
| 2,600 Scattered, 3,500 Overcast
|
| Temperature
| -5
|
| Dew Point
| -11
|
| Altimeter
| 29.99
|
| Instrument Approach and Runways in use
| ILS (Instrument Landing System) runway 23 Left in use
Landing 23 Left, Departing 23 Right
|
Notices to Airmen
Taxiway/runway closures, lights, etc.
| Runway 18 closed
|
Curator: Bruce Bream {tarrow@roadrunner.com}