Part 1: Planning and ATIS

Before you make your initial call to Approach, you must have listened to the ATIS broadcast and noted the critical information. ATIS is recorded continuously and updated every half hour or when conditions change significantly. You should tune it and write down the details at least 30 minutes before arrival, but certainly no more than 10 minutes before entering controlled airspace.

When you first contact Approach, you will acknowledge receipt of the ATIS using the identifier letter. This tells ATC that you have current information and are not asking them to repeat wind, runway, pressure, and weather. It saves frequency time and shows you are prepared.

The key information on ATIS is:

You should listen carefully and write down at least: runway, wind, visibility, QNH, and temperature/dew point. You may notice an identifier letter such as "India" or "Golf"—this is the ATIS information set identifier. It changes each time the recording is updated. When you call, include this letter so ATC knows you have the current information.