2-9-2

Operating Procedures

JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

Maintain an ATIS message that reflects the most current arrival and departure information.

Make a new recording when any of the following occur:
1. Upon receipt of any new official weather regardless of whether there is or is not a change in values.
2. When runway braking action reports are received that indicate runway braking is worse than that which is included in the current ATIS broadcast.
3. When there is a change in any other pertinent data, such as runway change, instrument approach in use, new or canceled NOTAMs/PIREPs update, etc.
When a pilot acknowledges that he/she has received the ATIS broadcast, controllers may omit those items contained in the broadcasts if they are current. Rapidly changing conditions will be issued by ATC, and the ATIS will contain the following:
Example

“Latest ceiling/visibility/altimeter/wind/(other conditions) will be issued by approach control/tower.”
Controllers must ensure that pilots receive the most current pertinent information by taking the following actions, as applicable:
1. When a pilot does not state the appropriate ATIS code on initial contact, ask the pilot to confirm receipt of the current ATIS information.
  Example
  
  “Verify you have information CHARLIE.”
  “Information CHARLIE current. Advise when you have CHARLIE.”
2. When a pilot is unable to receive the ATIS, issue the current weather, runway in use, approach/departure information, pertinent NOTAMs, and airport conditions.
  Example
  
  “Wind two five zero at one zero. Visibility one zero. Ceiling four thousand five hundred broken. Temperature three four. Dew point two eight. Altimeter three zero one zero. ILS-DME Runway Two Seven Approach in use. Departing Runway Two Two Right. Hazardous Weather Information for (geographical area) available on Flight Service Frequencies. Braking Action advisories are in effect.”
Advise aircraft of changes to the ATIS code by broadcasting the change on all appropriate frequencies. The broadcast must include changes to pertinent operational information, when known, that necessitated the ATIS change.
Example

“Attention all aircraft, information ALPHA current.”“Attention all aircraft, information BRAVO current. MICROBURST advisories in effect.”

“Attention all aircraft, information CHARLIE current. Numerous flocks of ducks in the immediate vicinity of (name) airport, altitude unknown.”

Reference

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-9-3, Content.
Note
1. No additional acknowledgement is required when a controller broadcasts information subsequent to the pilot's initial acknowledgement of the ATIS. Requiring each aircraft to acknowledge receipt of pertinent changes (broadcast) after initial confirmation of the ATIS could significantly impact workload.
2. Pertinent conditions are those that have a clear decisive relevance to the safety of air traffic. As noted in paragraph 2-1-2, Duty Priority, there are many variables involved that make it virtually impossible to develop a standard list of changes that are classified as relevant to every conceivable situation. Each set of circumstances must be evaluated on its own merit, and when more than one action is required, controllers must exercise their best judgment based on the facts and circumstances known to them.