ATIS, VOLMET, AFIS, AFISO

ATIS, VOLMET, AFIS, AFISO

Special radio services: ATIS for aerodrome information, VOLMET for in-flight weather, AFIS for uncontrolled fields.

Source: ICAO Annex 11 Air Traffic Services; ICAO Annex 3 Meteorological Service; WMO-No. 49 Vol II.

ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service)

Definition

Continuous recording of aerodrome information:

• Runway in use.
• QNH.
• Wind, wind variation.
• Visibility and weather.
• Clouds.
• Temperature and dew point.
• NOTAMs (briefly).
• Special procedures (e.g. LVP active).
• ATIS letter (information letter, e.g. "Alpha", "Bravo" — changes with each new edition).

Validity

ATIS information is typically valid for 30 minutes (ICAO Annex 11 §4.3.6.1). After 30 minutes or on significant weather/runway/operations change the ATIS is updated and the letter changes.

→ Pilot checks the ATIS letter before each call — if you have "information Charlie" in the approach brief and tower now has "information Delta", the new information must be heard.

Distribution — frequency and VOR

• VHF frequency dedicated to ATIS: e.g. Munich Departure ATIS 123.125; Arrival ATIS 123.275.
• VOR audio: at some fields ATIS is broadcast over the audio signal of a nearby VOR (no separate VHF needed). Pilot can listen to ATIS via the VOR audio channel.
• D-ATIS (see below).

Use

• Pilot listens to ATIS before approach/departure call.
• Confirms in initial call: "...with information Charlie..."
• → ATC knows: ATIS C is read, need not repeat.

Updating

• ATIS is manually updated (tower controller speaks or text re-generated).
• On significant changes (wind shift > 30°, new QNH ± 1 hPa, runway change, new NOTAM) → new letter.

D-ATIS (Digital ATIS)

Modern form: digital via ACARS or datalink → directly in EFB.

• Pilot can read text instead of listening.
• Faster and more accurate.

Weather information before and during the flight

Mandatory weather briefing

Weather briefing is mandatory for:

• Flights leaving the immediate vicinity of the departure aerodrome (all cross-country flights).
• All IFR flights.

Pre-flight sources:

• DWD / MeteoSwiss / Météo France: self-briefing portals.
• AIS / self-briefing system: NOTAMs + weather.
• GAFOR / GAMET: VFR-specific overviews.

Aerodrome weather in flight

Pilot can obtain weather information for a destination or cross-country flight during flight via multiple sources — in priority order:

VOLMET (Meteorological Information for Aircraft in Flight)

Definition

Weather information for in-flight aircraft, for multiple aerodromes in a broadcast area.

Frequency

• HF (High Frequency): for long distances, e.g. Atlantic flights.
• VHF: local, e.g. Frankfurt VOLMET.

Content

• METAR / SPECI of multiple fields.
• TAF for important fields.
• Not here: current weather warnings (SIGMETs are distributed separately).

Example stations

• Frankfurt VOLMET: weather for German major airports.
• London VOLMET: UK + Europe.
• New York VOLMET: North Atlantic.

Use

• Pilot listens to VOLMET to know current weather for route and destination.
• Not mandatory, but recommended for IFR and long VFR flights.

Cloud cover — coding

In ATIS, METAR and traffic reports the cloud cover is given in eighths (oktas):

→ "Overcast" means exactly: 100 % of the sky covered with clouds (fully covered, no blue patches).

AFIS (Aerodrome Flight Information Service)

Definition

Radio service at uncontrolled fields:

• No ATC (no controller).
• AFISO (Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer) gives information, no instructions.
• Traffic self-coordinates via AFISO as broadcaster.

Typical phrases

AFISO:

• "DEMRA, runway 08 in use, wind 080 degrees 10 knots, QNH 1018, no reported traffic."
• "DEMRA, traffic Piper Cherokee in left base for runway 08, position 1 mile."

Pilot:

• "[Field name], DEMRA, request landing information."
• "DEMRA, downwind runway 08, [field name]."

AFIS vs Tower

AFISO — Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer

Person at uncontrolled field who:

• Knows ATC standards.
• Provides traffic advisories.
• Announces weather and runway information.
• Does not control.

Qualification: often with pilot or ATC background.

Special case: self-announce

At fields without AFIS (very small, sport aerodromes):

• No AFISO.
• Pilot self-responsible:
  • "[Field name] traffic, DEMRA, 5 NM north, inbound for runway 08."
  • "[Field name] traffic, DEMRA, downwind runway 08."
  • "[Field name] traffic, DEMRA, final runway 08."

Other pilots listen and coordinate.

Practical recommendations

• Before each flight: listen to ATIS / METAR / TAF for destination.
• Within range: use VOLMET for weather updates.
• At AFIS field: actively seek radio contact.
• At uncontrolled field: self-announce in 360° around field.
• Check ATIS letter again before approach call (30 min validity).

Cross-reference

• Subject 050 Lessons "METAR", "TAF": weather coding.
• Subject 070 Lesson "Pre-flight": ATIS reading.