Retrieving correct ATIS

[DWiggins]

I'm a real world pilot with an instrument rating and tonight I completed the V-2 rating(wading in to get familiar..). Approaching KONT the tower seemed to reprimand me and several others for not having the actual ATIS code. I'm using ForeFlight and REX so I have real world weather x2, but it is my understanding that the ATIS within the sim is generated by the software, not PE. Am I missing something?

[Mark Hargrove]

That surprises me. While real-world tower ATC would be a little unhappy if you didn't have a current ATIS when you called, PE is specifically designed to allow you to set whatever weather you want, so they simply cannot be looking for you to have "information tango" at KONT (or anywhere). You DO need to get the weather from whatever source you're using, but all that ATC is looking for is for you to say "...with the weather." Saying "...with Oscar (or whatever)" is perfectly fine, but it won't actually mean anything to them. They got weather reports for the airports, but they're NOT listening to any kind of ATIS.

-M.

[Anthony Santanastaso]

I just listened to the recording and I must have missed it, but I believe all the controller wanted to know was whether or not you had the weather for SNA: "verify you have the current weather." As long as you verify that you have the weather, that will suffice in the absence of an actual recorded ATIS for each airport.

[DWiggins]

It could be that the rant wasn't intended for me. I guess I have a guilty conscience.. I recall reporting the ATIS to clearance at SNA(This was the V-2 rating). Did not report it to either ground or tower since I'm sure ground doesn't care, and tower coordinates with approach on my departure(maybe I'm wrong here though..) I'm used to flying primarily in and out of Class D, so when landing VFR I usually report the ATIS to the tower. I do recall the need to report the ATIS to approach prior to being cleared for approaches to land while IFR. Maybe that's where I neglected proper protocol. Should I have reported the ATIS to the last approach controller prior to be handed off to tower? My lack of experience landing VFR in Class C is showing.. That's why PE is a wonderful thing!

[Anthony Santanastaso]

It could be that the rant wasn't intended for me. I guess I have a guilty conscience.. I recall reporting the ATIS to clearance at SNA(This was the V-2 rating). Did not report it to either ground or tower since I'm sure ground doesn't care, and tower coordinates with approach on my departure(maybe I'm wrong here though..) I'm used to flying primarily in and out of Class D, so when landing VFR I usually report the ATIS to the tower. I do recall the need to report the ATIS to approach prior to being cleared for approaches to land while IFR. Maybe that's where I neglected proper protocol. Should I have reported the ATIS to the last approach controller prior to be handed off to tower? My lack of experience landing VFR in Class C is showing.. That's why PE is a wonderful thing!

Theoretically, Ground (as would any controller) would care if it wasn't marked on the strip that you received the ATIS. When you call a control position, like Clearance Delivery, and report having the ATIS, your flight strip is marked via procedures set forth by the facility. In the event it isn't marked by one controller, another one will simply ask for it. It is common practice to inform approach that you have the current ATIS as more than just weather information is contained in an ATIS broadcast - information that may be pertinent to your flight into/through/out of the airspace.

[Cyrus]

...Did not report it to either ground or tower since I'm sure ground doesn't care

This is contrary to what I thought was the proper protocol. Help.........?!

Since we're talking about Ground controllers, does one really need to inform them that you're "IFR" or "VFR" at the end of a taxi request? I hear this about half the time on PE, but I just can't think of why a Ground controller would care. I get why a Tower controller would care.... just not Ground...?

[Anthony Santanastaso]

...Did not report it to either ground or tower since I'm sure ground doesn't care

This is contrary to what I thought was the proper protocol. Help.........?!

Since we're talking about Ground controllers, does one really need to inform them that you're "IFR" or "VFR" at the end of a taxi request? I hear this about half the time on PE, but I just can't think of why a Ground controller would care. I get why a Tower controller would care.... just not Ground...?

At many places (like FRG), it matters due to sequencing the aircraft to the runway. In addition, IFR aircraft need a release from the TRACON. Notifying the Ground controller that you're IFR will let them start the process of requesting a release from the TRACON. It also will enable them to sequence the IFR aircraft around the VFR flights since if a release is held, you want to be able to launch the VFR aircraft without unnecessary delay (in other words, you don't want to physically block the VFR flights with the IFR flights waiting either on the taxiway or some other holding location while waiting for a release).

[Cyrus]

Like I said, it's always a good idea to tell Ground whether you're IFR or VFR.

(thanks! )

[Kevin_atc]

...Did not report it to either ground or tower since I'm sure ground doesn't care

This is contrary to what I thought was the proper protocol. Help.........?!

Since we're talking about Ground controllers, does one really need to inform them that you're "IFR" or "VFR" at the end of a taxi request? I hear this about half the time on PE, but I just can't think of why a Ground controller would care. I get why a Tower controller would care.... just not Ground...?

At many places (like FRG), it matters due to sequencing the aircraft to the runway. In addition, IFR aircraft need a release from the TRACON. Notifying the Ground controller that you're IFR will let them start the process of requesting a release from the TRACON. It also will enable them to sequence the IFR aircraft around the VFR flights since if a release is held, you want to be able to launch the VFR aircraft without unnecessary delay (in other words, you don't want to physically block the VFR flights with the IFR flights waiting either on the taxiway or some other holding location while waiting for a release).

Anthony's correct. In addition, it tells the ground controller that he should look for a flight strip on you rather than simply writing down your callsign on his pad of paper. At larger airports (maybe at smaller ones, too) they'll note the taxi time of the aircraft for delay tracking purposes. Ground will then take the strip and hand it off to tower when you approach the runway. So for a little guy, telling ground you're IFR is not a bad idea at all.

[DWiggins]

Awesome feedback guys. I'm hooked just from the debriefing aspect of PE. Multiple, knowledgeable controllers, pilots and instructors chiming in with valuable info and logical explanations that most pilots won't ever get to hear! Where can you get that in the real world?.. not with my overbooked cfii's.. Sign me up for life!