Pilot speak: What means...

[tip]

" we have hotel"?

 

[doctordialtone]

" we have hotel"?

"Hotel" Means Information Hotel.

On approach, a pilot tunes into ATIS to get the current runway info and Barometric Pressure, Wind Speed and Direction, etc..

The info is given an alphabetical designation.

The pilot gives the most recent designation to verify that he has current info.

 

[crayon]

If an ATIS in use .. when the weather data on the recorded message changes the controller will update the version with the next letter in the English alphabet.

"Advise on initial contact you have information Hotel"

Now the controller knows you have the current conditions. If you advise you have Bravo then they have to give you the current weather.

 

[belvdr]

" we have hotel"?

When listening to ATIS at an airport, they are given a phonetic name, such as hotel. When contacting the tower, you let them know you have information hotel. If the info has been updated it would move to Juliet.

 

[belvdr]

If an ATIS in use .. when the weather data on the recorded message changes the controller will update the version with the next letter in the English alphabet.

"Advise on initial contact you have information Hotel"

Now the controller knows you have the current conditions. If you advise you have Bravo then they have to give you the current weather.

I normally hear them tell the pilot the ATIS is updated and to relisten to it.

 

[crayon]

I normally hear them tell the pilot the ATIS is updated and to relisten to it.

Depends on the work load and the disposition of the controller.

 

[belvdr]

Depends on the work load and the disposition of the controller.

Yep hence my use of "normally"

 

[tip]

Thanks all!

 

[k5xs]

Tip,

The ATIS normally changes about 55 minutes after the hour. At some airports the ATIS is updated twice per hour. And a “special” ATIS can be released at anytime based on significant weather changes.

 

[slayer816]

Typical ATIS update phraseology:

"Attention all aircraft, information TANGO now current, DFW altimeter 29.88"

 

[Oakland_Tower]

When listening to ATIS at an airport, they are given a phonetic name, such as hotel. When contacting the tower, you let them know you have information hotel. If the info has been updated it would move to Juliet.

India follows Hotel, but that's not the point I want to make When I was a controller the rule on updates was that you would inform the pilot that "India is now current" and if the pilot volunteers to "go get it" then all is good. If they just say "roger" or something similar, then we had to read the new ATIS, or at least the changes from the previous one.