When are ATIS broadcasts updated?

When are ATIS broadcasts updated?

• A. Upon receipt of any official weather, regardless of content change or reported values.
• B. Only when the ceiling and/or visibility changes by a reportable value.
• C. Every 30 minutes if weather conditions are below basic VFR; otherwise hourly.
• D. ATIS broadcasts are updated only when there is a change in the wind direction.

Answer: (A)

ATIS is updated whenever new official weather information is received from the weather service, regardless of whether the observed values have changed. This keeps the broadcast current and aligned with the latest METAR/TAF data and other official weather feeds, so pilots aren’t relying on stale information. The time stamp and latest update are what matter for situational awareness, not waiting for a predefined change threshold. Updates aren’t tied to a fixed interval, so waiting for a 30-minute or hourly cadence isn’t how ATIS works. And updating only on a wind-direction change would miss other weather changes that can affect operations.

ATIS is updated whenever new official weather information is received from the weather service, regardless of whether the observed values have changed. This keeps the broadcast current and aligned with the latest METAR/TAF data and other official weather feeds, so pilots aren’t relying on stale information. The time stamp and latest update are what matter for situational awareness, not waiting for a predefined change threshold.

Updates aren’t tied to a fixed interval, so waiting for a 30-minute or hourly cadence isn’t how ATIS works. And updating only on a wind-direction change would miss other weather changes that can affect operations.