AIM RAC 1.3 ATIS

ATIS is the continuous broadcasting of recorded information for arriving and departing
aircraft on VOT/VOR or a discrete VHF/UHF frequency. Its purpose is to improve
controller and flight service specialist effectiveness and to relieve frequency congestion
by automating the repetitive transmission of essential but routine information.

ATIS messages are recorded in a standard format and contain such information as:

    (a) airport name and message code letter;
    (b) weather information, including:
       
        (i) time;
        (ii) surface wind, including gusts;
        (iii) visibility;
        (iv) weather and obstructions to vision;
        (v) ceiling;
        (vi) sky condition;
        (vii) temperature;
        (viii) dew point;
        (ix) altimeter setting;
        (x) pertinent SIGMETs, AIRMETs and PIREPs; and
        (xi) other pertinent remarks;

    (c) type of instrument approach in use, including information on parallel or
        simultaneous converging operations;
   
    (d) landing runway, both IFR and VFR, including information on hold short
         operations and the stopping distance available;

    (e) departure runway, both IFR and VFR;

    (f) a NOTAM or an excerpt from a NOTAM, pertinent information regarding the
        serviceability of a NAVAID, or field conditions applicable to arriving or
        departing aircraft. These may be deleted from an ATIS message after a
        broadcast period of 12 hr at domestic airports or 24 hr at international airports;
   
    (g) instruction that aircraft are to acknowledge receipt of the ATIS broadcast on
        initial contact with ATC.
 

Each recording will be identified by a phonetic alphabet code letter, beginning with
“ALFA.” Succeeding letters will be used for each subsequent message.

Example of ATIS Message:

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION BRAVO. WEATHER AT 1400
ZULU: WIND ZERO FIVE ZERO AT TWO ZERO, VISIBILITY FIVE HAZE,
CEILING THREE THOUSAND OVERCAST, TEMPERATURE ONE EIGHT,
DEW POINT ONE SIX, ALTIMETER TWO NINER FOUR SIX, PARALLEL ILS
APPROACHES ARE IN PROGRESS. IFR LANDING ZERO SIX RIGHT, ZERO
SIX LEFT. VFR LANDING ZERO SIX LEFT. DEPARTURE ZERO SIX LEFT.
NOTAM: GLIDE PATH ILS RUNWAY ONE FIVE OUT OF SERVICE. INFORM
ATC YOU HAVE INFORMATION BRAVO.
 

NOTE:            Current time and RVR measurements will not be included in the ATIS
                        message, but will be issued in accordance with current practices.
                        Temperature and dew point information is derived only from the scheduled
                        hourly weather observations.
 

Pilots hearing the broadcast should inform the ATC unit on first contact that they have
received the information, by repeating the code word which identifies the message,
thus obviating the need for the controller to issue information.

Example: ........................ WITH BRAVO.

During periods of rapidly changing conditions that would create difficulties in keeping
the ATIS message current, the following message will be recorded and broadcasted:

            BECAUSE OF RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER/AIRPORT
            CONDITIONS, CONTACT ATC FOR CURRENT INFORMATION.

The success and effectiveness of ATIS is largely dependent upon the co-operation and
participation of airspace users; therefore, pilots are strongly urged to take full
advantage of this service.