How to copy the ATIS and report you have it
The ATIS is the first radio thing you do at a towered field, and it sets up every call after it. Copy it cleanly and you walk onto the frequency already ahead of the airplane.
What the ATIS is
The ATIS is a recorded loop of the airport’s current weather, the active runway, and any notices, updated each hour or whenever conditions change. You listen to it before you call anyone.
The information letter
Each update is tagged with a letter — Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and on through the alphabet. Quoting the letter on your first call tells the controller exactly which set of conditions you already have.
What to copy
At a minimum: the active runway, the altimeter, the wind, and the information letter. Many pilots jot just those four and that is enough to sound squared-away on the first call.
“With information Charlie”
On your first call to ground or tower, you add “with information Charlie.” It tells the controller you already have the weather, so they do not have to read it to you.
If you do not have it
If you could not copy it, say “negative ATIS” or “request the altimeter.” Asking is always better than bluffing your way onto the field without the current numbers.
Listen for the change
The recording ends with “advise you have information Charlie.” When a new letter comes out, the runway or weather may have changed — recopy it, because the controller is now expecting the new letter.
Drill it
Copying the ATIS quickly is a habit you build by reps. Practice the calls that follow it — your first ground and tower calls — graded and free on Clearspar.
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