Which description corresponds to Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)?

• A. The continuous broadcast of recorded non-control information in terminal areas.
• B. A weather briefing via telephone.
• C. The automated weather reporting system for en-route updates.
• D. A ground-based weather radar feed.

Answer: (A)

ATIS stands for Automatic Terminal Information Service. It is the continuous broadcast of recorded non-control information in terminal areas. This loop typically includes current weather observations at the airport, active runways, available instrument approaches, altimeter settings, and other pertinent notices for arriving and departing traffic. By providing this information on a dedicated frequency, ATIS reduces the need for repeated voice contact with the tower and helps pilots prepare for their next radio calls or actions.

Other descriptions don’t fit ATIS: a weather briefing via telephone is a personal briefing, not a broadcast; an automated weather reporting system for en-route updates covers en-route weather information rather than terminal-area operations; and a ground-based weather radar feed is radar weather data, not ATIS information.