airtraffic

Author Topic: ATIS - AWOS  (Read 43792 times)

Offline lmiranda727

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ATIS - AWOS
« on: February 02, 2007, 07:20:47 AM »
I'm looking for feeds that I can listen ATIS and AWOS at major airports.



Offline KSYR-pjr

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Re: ATIS - AWOS
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2007, 08:01:08 AM »
While major airports may use an AWOS (Automated Weather Observation Station) to collect weather conditions, only the ATIS (Automated Terminal Information Service) is broadcast over an aviation frequency at those airport (at least when speaking of the US airports, I cannot speak with any authority for those outside the US).  This is due to the fact that the ATIS contains much more information about the airport besides the weather, including runway closures and conditions, taxiway closures, pilot weather reports, active SIGMETS (severe weather broadcasts), frequencies to use, etc.  Thus, AWOS stations at major airports are not able to be received via frequency.  Note:  Most AWOS/ASOS-equipped airports do have local phone numbers that you can call, however.  If you want a US airport AWOS phone number, let me know and I will look through the Airport/Facilities Directory to post it for you.

As you know, the issue with ATIS broadcasts is that the broadcast is pretty much is a continual stream of the same information looped throughout the hour (there may be a 30 second break at ATIS change, but otherwise it is continual).   Thus, a volunteer feeder here would have to tie up a sound-card port and a scanner to receive to what amounts to a minute's worth of information repeated over and over.  Since looped information would tend to lose the typical listener pretty quickly, just about all of the volunteer feeders here probably do not have the resources to devote to it.

That said,  it appears that there are a couple of feeds that might offer it:

KBDR-Bridgeport CT/KHPN/ZBW - Jason, who is very active in these forums, mentions in his feed detail that the ATIS is available upon request, so you might want to ask him.

SKBO - Bogotá, Colombia (#3) - list an ATIS, but that feed looks to be down.


Offline tyketto

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Re: ATIS - AWOS
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2007, 01:22:42 PM »
While major airports may use an AWOS (Automated Weather Observation Station) to collect weather conditions, only the ATIS (Automated Terminal Information Service) is broadcast over an aviation frequency at those airport (at least when speaking of the US airports, I cannot speak with any authority for those outside the US). 

Not entirely true.

Some Class D airports that have AWOS will broadcast the AWOS on the ATIS frequency after the field closes. This will also include NOTAMs for the field as well as any information regarding arrival and departure procedures, CTAF frequencies (if different than what is listed on the AF/D), and when the field will reopen.

Pick a class D airport from Airnav that has a phone number for its ATIS, and give it a call after the field closes (VGT, PRC, JLN, and SAC are good examples). You should hear the AWOS.

BL.

Offline Pygmie

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Re: ATIS - AWOS
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2007, 03:13:05 PM »
I know you were talking about major airports, but actually up here in Canada the new AWOS installations that are going in at smaller airports around the country are being put in with their own frequency that continually broadcasts the live airport weather, not just the hourly METARs/specials.

They are avaliable at a lot of uncontrolled airports that don't have a tower or on-site FSS to relay current weather information.

Offline KSYR-pjr

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Re: ATIS - AWOS
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2007, 03:43:36 PM »
Not entirely true.

Some Class D airports that have AWOS will broadcast the AWOS on the ATIS frequency after the field closes. This will also include NOTAMs for the field as well as any information regarding arrival and departure procedures, CTAF frequencies (if different than what is listed on the AF/D), and when the field will reopen.

The phrase "major airports" in my mind and how I interpreted the OP's definition are class B airports, no offense to you class D controllers.   Ok, so yes there are some VERY busy class D airports, such as Teterboro, NJ, and Hanscom-Bedford, Mass., but those airports do not close their towers and therefore, AWOS is not broadcast.

Show me a class D airport that closes and broadcasts their AWOS and I will contend that this airport is NOT a major airport.

Offline tyketto

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Re: ATIS - AWOS
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2007, 03:49:14 PM »
Not entirely true.

Some Class D airports that have AWOS will broadcast the AWOS on the ATIS frequency after the field closes. This will also include NOTAMs for the field as well as any information regarding arrival and departure procedures, CTAF frequencies (if different than what is listed on the AF/D), and when the field will reopen.

The phrase "major airports" in my mind and how I interpreted the OP's definition are class B airports, no offense to you class D controllers.   Ok, so yes there are some VERY busy class D airports, such as Teterboro, NJ, and Hanscom-Bedford, Mass., but those airports do not close their towers and therefore, AWOS is not broadcast.

Show me a class D airport that closes and broadcasts their AWOS and I will contend that this airport is NOT a major airport.

Ahh.. and I missed that the OP said 'major' airports! My fault. I thought that it was airports in general. I can't think of any Class D airport that is major and closes. MHR is the closest, but they're always open.

BL.

Offline Jackal24

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Re: ATIS - AWOS
« Reply #6 on: February 04, 2007, 12:18:50 AM »
Show me a class D airport that closes and broadcasts their AWOS and I will contend that this airport is NOT a major airport.

Merrill Field, Anchorage, AK (PAMR), or Bethel Airport, Bethel, AK (PABE)

Offline KSYR-pjr

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Re: ATIS - AWOS
« Reply #7 on: February 04, 2007, 10:36:24 AM »
Merrill Field, Anchorage, AK (PAMR), or Bethel Airport, Bethel, AK (PABE)

Hmmm, interesting.    I will admit to not knowing anything about Alaska's aviation other than to point out that from what I have read operations are different up there when compared to the contiguous 48 states. 

Using AirNav.com as a resource, I took a look at average daily aircraft operations for those two airports.  PAMR is showing 524 per day and PABE at 334 per day.

To put this into perspective, Boston is about 1120 per day, LAX at 1781, and Chicago-OHare at 2662 per day.  Class D airports like Teterboro (outside NYC) are at 579.

Thus, it does in fact look like PAMR is a very busy class D that does close at night, so there is the exception to the rule. :)   Thanks for the education.

Offline FlySafe

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Re: ATIS - AWOS
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2007, 02:50:19 PM »
Here is any AWOS site
http://www.anyawos.com/