Training and Safety Tip: Listen to the whole ATIS
Preparing for a recent flight, my instructor-rated passenger and I were looking forward to a fun morning under the foggles. I wanted to practice some simulated instrument flying and shoot some approaches, and he was along as my safety pilot.
We conducted a regular preflight check and anticipated a smooth and satisfying outing ahead of an incoming weather system in the afternoon. Got in, started up, and tuned in to our airport’s automated terminal information service (ATIS) broadcast. After the usual information—including temperature, wind speed, runway in use, and altimeter setting—we heard something interesting.
“Huh. That’s good to know,” my friend said.
Indeed, I agreed. There was no notam to that effect, no note in our electronic flight bag software. Had we not listened all the way to the end of the broadcast, we would not have known there were drones flying low on our departure path.
It was an important lesson in preflight preparation and paying attention to the vexatious little details. On a different afternoon our airport’s ATIS broadcast included birds in the vicinity of the departure end of the runway. At another airport’s automated weather observing system, I heard about larger wildlife traversing the runway. The last thing you want on short final or as you prepare to flare is to surprise a family of deer, just finishing up their midmorning snack on the grass median.
FAR 91.103 states that “each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight.” That includes not only weather and runway lengths, conditions underway, but also, “reliable information appropriate to the aircraft, relating to aircraft performance under expected values of airport elevation and runway slope, aircraft gross weight, and wind and temperature.”
This information could include, for example, taxiways under construction, lights that may be inoperative, temporary structures (such as cranes or other heavy equipment) near the approach paths, or any manner of other special instructions specific to the airfield. I’d say knowing someone is flying drones to survey an area just south of the airport falls under that rule, too.
So next time you tune in the ATIS on your radio, don’t tune out your brain after you hear the altimeter setting. There may be some additional information at the tail end of the broadcast that is critical to a safe flight.
