LiveATC Discussion Forums
Air Traffic Monitoring => Listener Forum => Topic started by: KD4IIW on August 16, 2018, 09:08:26 PM
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When listening to an approach frequency when a pilot says they have "tango" what does that mean?
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"Tango" would be that Airports (terminal) current "ATIS" - Alpha, Bravo... Tango... Zulu
Automatic terminal information service, or (ATIS), is a continuous broadcast of recorded aeronautical information in busier terminal areas, i.e. airports and their immediate surroundings. ATIS broadcasts contain essential information, such as current weather information, active runways, available approaches, and any other information required by the pilots, such as important NOTAMs. Pilots usually listen to an available ATIS broadcast before contacting the local control unit, which reduces the controllers' workload and relieves frequency congestion.
- from wikipedia
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KJFK D-ATIS from Liveatc
https://www.liveatc.net/flisten.php?icao=kjfk&mount=kjfk_atis
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ATIS broadcasts are typically recorded by someone in the ATC facility at the airport, and usually change once an hour, just prior to the hour, although any significant change in the weather or operations at the airport will trigger another recording between the hourly recordings. All ATIS transmissions end with the phrase "Advise on initial contact you have information Tango" or whatever the current assigned letter is. Facilities increment that letter by one every time they record a new ATIS broadcast, so the next recording would be "... information Uniform", etc. When a pilot checks in with their destination approach facility the first time, they are expected to already have the current ATIS information, so they will typically add "...with information whatever" to their first transmission. If they don't, the controller might respond with something like "advise when you have the weather at wherever". As mentioned earlier, this is all to save controllers from having to read the current weather to every pilot that checks in over the frequency.
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Thanks