Got the numbers?

[bruce]

"Have the numbers" This is a term that I had not come across before flying PE & I am wondering if this falls into the category "taxi to the active" ie. means relatively little.
Is it correct R/T procedure to say " have the numbers" when you have listened to the ATIS "Los Angeles information Bravo one three five five Zulu". At least if you say "Bravo" the Controller knows you have the correct wx.

I suspect the correct procedure is for an ATIS to acknowledge you have information Bravo & for an AWOS ( where there is no indent) to say have the numbers, but I am not sure.

I would be interested to hear other peoples views on this.

Cheers

[Pieces]

My understanding is that "Have the numbers" in real world flying means that you have the wind and altimeter setting. A controller will give you the ATIS information, though, because it does not indicate that you have any other ATIS information. Generally, you want to avoid "Have the numbers".

With PilotEdge, the ATIS identifiers and the weather itself is not consistent pilot to pilot. Providing information such as the current landing runway means less on PE because the real world landing runway may not align with the weather you are using. Therefore ATC does not expect any specific ATIS code, and "Have the numbers" is acceptable.

[Keith Smith]

We're fine if you check in with an ATIS code as long as you know that half of it might be inaccurate for what is actually in use.

"Have numbers" would means that you have the weather but not the full ATIS (which in real life would contain runway, approach and any pertinent remarks). It's possible that you could "have numbers" using a digital weather system that pulls the METAR for you, but nothing else.

Reece, you're bang on, the only thing I'd add is that while we don't expect an ATIS code, we're fine if you provide one.

[Kevin_atc]

To add to this, there are two different times when you should tell ATC that you "have the numbers" or the ATIS.

1. When you call for taxi. (Also include your location on the airport so we know where you are!)
2. When you check in with approach control when nearing your destination
2a. If you're VFR and you call up a tower to land, let them know you have the weather info

If you do this each time at the appropriate times, you'll be sure to get on a controller's good side

[Alex Stjepanovic]

If you do this each time at the appropriate times, you'll be sure to get on a controller's good side

Unless the controller is a complete drunk, like Kevin In that case it simply won't matter cause he'll never remember it.


I kid.



On this note, Bob Ackerman, a real life controller who passed away not long ago, that some of us knew on VATSIM, used to chat with us and compare the RW to the virtual one. One of the many interesting not-well-known quirks that he used to note, was that even if you told the controller that you had the numbers, unless you stated from what observation it was, that the way the fine print in ATC procedures reads, it was as good as useless. To what extent each facility knows of and applies this, is hard to say, but it did bring a very interesting point of view to it.

Now that this was brought up, I'll probably dig into .65 some and see if I can find it.

[bruce]

Thanks for the swift & informative replies, I knew I could rely on you all . Just need to remember to put theory in practice.

[Keith Smith]

Alex, since pilots are getting system-generated ATIS from their sims, the observation time may not match the real world observation time, so we don't enforce that.

[Alex Stjepanovic]

Yup, that's why I mentioned that I wasn't sure how much this is enforced even in reality

[Orest Skrypuch]

that the way the fine print in ATC procedures reads, it was as good as useless.

If you think about it, In the RW, that entirely stands to reason. The conditions may have changed, and they wish you to confirm that you have the latest conditions, where there is an ATIS. Where there is only an automated weather broadcast, of course there is no ATIS letter.

In simulation (offline, on VATSIM or on PE etc.), there is no consistency as to the weather source -- it is up to you. And there is no ATIS provided by PE in any case. It may be good practice to listen to some ATIS, and call a the letter in, but it is not an operational necessity. I treat it as the RW with no ATIS, just an auto sequence for the weather. I always continually review the weather source that I am using (AS2012, actual & realtime), and when I call in I say, "have the numbers".

* Orest

[Alex Stjepanovic]

I think you misinterpreted what I was trying to say, or better to say what Bob had said.

A "numbers statement" without the relevant "timestamp", was as good as useless from his the point of view and the point of view of all those controllers he knew, simply because the rules said so. I'm not referring to the uselessness of reporting receipt of various reports within the virtual world....however true it may hold in those realms too.