Why such a lengthy ATIS?

Why do so many ATIS's, particularly the automated ones, include so much superfluous information? All we really need is the weather and approach in use, along with any pertinent information that is not already in the notams.

Here are some common examples of information I think we can do without...

"it is mandatory to read back all runway hold short instructions" - it always has been, I don't need the reminder.

"bird activity in the vicinity of the airport" -I have never been to an airport that didn't have bird activity.

"A02 sea level pressure 183748927758938827788999" -Um, I don't care.

Then many atis's go into a lengthy discussion about taxiway closures. If it has already been listed in the notams for a significant amount of time, a simple "numerous taxiway closures in effect, see notams" would cover it all.

Something that should take 30 seconds takes 2 minutes.

Heh, I love that synthetic "simple-text" voice though. It's always good for a laugh, especially when he starts spitting out the sea level pressure and pressure change numbers, and other random info.

It's especially frustrating if you missed the wind speed/direction or altimeter setting, and then have to wait 5 minutes until said information is repeated.

Just get the letter.

ABQ is horrible for that. Usually someone starts talking right when the identifier is being said and I have to listen again. Ugh.

My favorite is information "Wookie"

North Vegas has a particularly long ATIS. I guess the place must be pilot deviation city. "Read back all hold short instructions, and runway assignments with your full call sign. Yellow flashing lights indicate you are approaching an active runway. Converging and opposing runway operations in effect."

(No kidding, no kidding and, no kidding, really? I didn't get that from the "landing and departing runways 12L, 12R, 7, and 25"...)

what about foxtwat

Unicorn is my favorite

This thread should be renamed, "Wookie Tang-o Foxtwat (WTF) is up with these long ATIS broadcasts?"

He will find you. He is everywhere.

The 7110.65 lists eleventy billion things EVERY aircraft must be told, the ATIS is a good way to only say it once per hour for the controllers, or in the case of a automated one , never. Bottom line is you're have to hear that information somehow anyways so suck it up.

The only thing that pisses me off more than a 4 min atis, is pilots who ASK for information that is INCLUDED in the atis! ATIS is broadcast as it is something that controllers want/need you to hear and understand. However, since it applies to EVERY AIRCRAFT they don't want to say it 70 times an hr. If you're too good to listen to ATIS, then you are too good to fly a plane. Go drive a porche, no one will say you're compensating.




BTW, when I buy a corvette I intend to not listen to ATIS. That will only be because I can't afford to fly if I own a corvette. I'll give it 2 weeks.




Also eleventy is an awesome number. I know, my amp goes to eleventy.

I was in BUF this winter and the atis was talking about patchy thin snow over ice all over the airport... It describe the runways and taxiways individually as having PATCHY thin snow over ice, but then when it came to describing the ramp it specifically said " thin wet snow over ice" I laughed so hard I recorded it, I wish i had a way to post it on here. It is a .WAV file

That's awesome! You have to watch out for that thin ice/snow. It will get you every time.

That automated voice is creepy as hell too...SAF's can be pretty bad, "GROUND CONTROL, REPEAT, GROUND CONTROL FREQUENCY IS NOT IN USE. I REPEAT, IT IS NOT IN USE, EVERYTHING, I MEAN, EVERYTHING IS COMBINED ON TOWER 119.5 ONLY FOR EVERYTHING". Guess how many people still call ground on 121.7?

I've occasionally been halfway through a transmission like that when the frequencies at the old home base were combined late at night, and have mumbled "uh...sorry...coming up on tower..." right after "Ground, Beercan 764..."

Am I the only one who listens intently to find the automated ATIS's obligatory ill-timed awkward pause?

"Flow control in effect for aircraft landing Las............................... Vegas McCarran airport."

Exactly, like "Simultaneous visual approach in use, Runway 23L..................wait for it............wait...........23R.

I'm like "holy crap, I was sure it would be runway 14, not 23R!" :laff: