ATIS

[ianbennett]

Hi,

I wanted to open a subject about ATIS. Because I am having issues with this.

1) x-plane ATIS
First I have tried but cannot get any ATIS in my x-plane. Could someone tell me how exactly I can get an ATIS info in x-plane.

2) Reel ATIS
Does someone now any live radio web sites or so that could give us the reel live ATIS. I have found a few web site given live radios from Lax for example, but never ATIS.
If we do find this it could be a reel go solution for us using pilotedge.

3) Runway in us and ATIS info missing
Because we do not have any Pilotedge ATIS it does not allow to anticipate runways in use for example. Ok with a metal you can have an idea on a one runway airport, but at lax for example you have parcels runways. Getting ATIS especially in flight before approcpch is a crucial information that is missing in pilotedge. Any ideas ?

Thanks

Ian Bennett

[Keith Smith]

ATIS reduces the workload of the controllers, allowing pilots to obtain pertinent information about the airport without having it read out on the radio by the controller.

PilotEdge does not currently model ATIS. We allow pilots to pick up ATIS from THEIR sim (rather than our service), using whatever mechanisms exist in their existing simulator. If one does not exist, they can simply check in with 'negative ATIS' and the controller will furnish them with the information.

Picking up ATIS in X-Plane requires that you have ATC audio and/or text enabled within X-Plane. You can do that from the Sound menu (the same place you set engine/prop volumes).

If you really want to hear a live ATIS, it's often available by phone. Simply look up the airport information on airnav.com to see if it's there for a given field.

It's REALLY not worth going through the trouble IMHO. Picking up the ATIS before takeoff is something student pilots are taught early on, but it's not really a skill that requires honing and regular practice (unlike, say, flying an ILS). Whether you pick up the ATIS from the radio, or a controller reads you the pertinent weather and runway in use, all that matters is that you obtain the information. The specific mechanism for picking it up is just not that important.

Getting ATIS especially in flight before approach is a crucial information that is missing in pilotedge.

That's incorrect. It's helpful to find out the WEATHER and the approach in use prior to commencing an approach to an airport. This can be done through ATIS _OR_ by allowing the controller to furnish you with that information. By default, ATC will read you the weather and approach in use when you check in with the frequency that will be handling your approach into the airport.

[ianbennett]

Hi Keith,

1) x-plane ATIS:
I do not know why but my x-plane does not want to give me ATIS even so I have the ATC by sound and ATC by text in the sound menu selected. I turn in my com1 to the ATIs Frq (bat, avionics and radios are on) but no sound or message, I am missing a point should I do something more to get x-plane deliver me ATIS info?

2) ATIS information:
Strange because as an VFR pilot the way I learned is that I have to get ATIS information before contacting tower when on ground and also before contacting tower at destination.
i do understand that technically you are right, your explanation is as per the books, but practically in real flying I have never called up a Tower with "negative ATIS" that would seems not very good for me. But yes this is what I will do because anyway even if I get ATIS from x-plane or an other source, and even if I have metals with me I will never have the runway in use, so your suggestion is most probably the best one in our given situation , I will me calling in with "negative ATIS" .

Thanks

A if someone can help me understand why my x-plane is not given me ATIS information please .

Regards,

Ian Bennett

[Steven Winslow]

Ian, there are a few airports in X-Plane that for some reason or another do not automatically give you ATIS information even if you have the correct frequency tuned in. But, in most cases, I tune in my COM 2 radio to the ATIS frequency and then activate my COM 2 radio and usually the ATIS is announced and displayed on screen. If that doesn't work for you, this may not be an optimal solution, but you can go to the Local Map view and zoom in on the airport you so you can see the little target large enough to click on it without clicking on your aircraft icon. Then, click on the little target and it will give you at least the wind and barometric pressure at that airport in the upper right hand corner of your screen. If you want to check the wind and barometric pressure at your destination, you can go to that airport briefly and do the same thing, keeping in mind it may change a bit by the time you actually fly there, then put yourself back at your departure airport. You should be able to determine the runway in use based on the wind direction.

As Keith mentioned, you can actually call the ATIS phone number listed in the airport information on airnav.com or AOPA's airport information. I've done this and it adds to the realism of my flight. Keep in mind the X-Plane weather downloads are a bit behind the actual weather. Since there's no long distance charges to call, it's kind of fun to call up to get the ATIS and any other notices for that particular airport. I believe you are outside the US so I don't know what your long distance charges would be, if any.

Good luck!

[ianbennett]

Thanks Steve for your help, I will be trying tonight bases on your ideas.

I will try using skype on an other online phone calling the ATIS.

Cheers,

Ian

PS: Tonight you will see me online with my E120 all setup for my cockpit

[Colin Payette]

If you do call the real ATIS phone number it's probably a good idea to keep the call as short as possible. Don't want to tie up the lines too much for real pilots who may be getting a busy signal.

You should get a good idea of weather from your sim in the UI where you can set weather. You can also get METAR data online: http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/metar.shtml

[ianbennett]

Thanks for that,

Yes you are right and I had though about that, calling the ATIS is not a good option because of the reason you are given, will not do it.

Thanks

[Steven Winslow]

The call should only take you about 15 seconds. Even if you don't get the info down the first time through, it might take 30 seconds or so. I agree it's good to be courteous to other callers, but, given the short length of the call, I really don't think it's an issue here.

[ianbennett]

Hi again,

Ok I have been able to identify my problem but not resolve it.

With x-plane aircraft and most aircrafts I have I do get ATIS, but with my C172 and B200 that I use most of the time no ATIS.

I programmed a button to turn on/off comm1, the button work fine with the other aircraft but with they 2 still no ATIS. I went into plane maker but did not find any hint to my problem.

Any ideas?

[Keith Smith]

Can you add a generic audio panel to those planes (one with com1/2, nav1/2, adf1/2 audio selectors) ?