When a pilot flies into a different airport, it is important to review the current data for that airport. This data provides the pilot with information, such as communication frequencies, services available, closed runways, or airport construction. Four common sources of information are:
- Aeronautical Charts
- Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility Directory)
- Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs)
- Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
Aeronautical Charts
Aeronautical charts provide specific information on airports. The Navigation section contains an excerpt from an aeronautical chart and an aeronautical chart legend, which provide guidance on interpreting the information shown on the chart.
Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility Directory)
The Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility Directory) provides the most comprehensive information on a given airport. It contains information on airports, heliports, and seaplane bases that are open to the public. The Chart Supplement U.S. is published in seven books, which are organized by regions and are revised every 56 days. The Chart Supplement U.S. is also available digitally from the FAA website. Figure 1 contains an excerpt from a directory.
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| Figure 1. Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility Directory excerpt |
For a complete listing of the information provided in the Chart Supplement U.S. and guidance on decoding it, refer to the "Legend Sample" located in the front of each Chart Supplement U.S.
In addition to airport information, each Chart Supplement U.S. contains information such as special notices, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Weather Service (NWS) telephone numbers, preferred instrument flight rules (IFR) routing, visual flight rules (VFR) waypoints, a listing of very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) receiver checkpoints, aeronautical chart bulletins, land and hold short operations (LAHSO) for selected airports, airport diagrams for selected towered airports, en route flight advisory service (EFAS) outlets, parachute jumping areas, and facility telephone numbers. It is beneficial to review a Chart Supplement U.S. to become familiar with the information it contains.
Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs)
Time-critical aeronautical information that is temporary in nature or not sufficiently known in advance to permit publication on aeronautical charts or in other operational publications receives immediate dissemination through the NOTAM system. The NOTAM information could affect your decision to make the flight. It includes such information as taxiway and runway closures, construction, communications, changes in status of navigational aids, and other information essential to planned en route, terminal, or landing operations. Exercise good judgment and common sense by carefully reviewing the information provided in NOTAMs.
Prior to any flight, pilots should check for any NOTAMs that could affect their intended flight. For more information on NOTAMs, refer to the “Pilot and Aeronautical Information” section in the “The Role of the FAA” post.
Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
The Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) is a recording of the local weather conditions and other pertinent non-control information broadcast continuously on a local frequency in a repeating loop. It is normally updated once per hour but may be updated more frequently when changing local conditions warrant. Important information is broadcast on ATIS including weather, runways in use, specific ATC procedures, and any airport construction activity that could affect taxi planning.
When the ATIS is recorded, it is given a code. This code is changed with every ATIS update. For example, ATIS Alpha is replaced by ATIS Bravo. During the next update, ATIS Charlie is recorded, followed by ATIS Delta, and the sequence continues down the alphabet.
Prior to calling ATC, tune to the ATIS frequency and listen to the recorded broadcast. The broadcast ends with a statement containing the ATIS code.
For example, “Advise on initial contact, you have information Bravo.” Upon contacting the tower controller, state that you have Information Bravo. This allows the tower controller to verify the pilot has the current local weather and airport information without having to state it all to each pilot who calls.
This also helps prevent the tower frequency from becoming congested with repeated transmissions of the same information, which would result without an ATIS broadcast. Using ATIS broadcasts at both departure and arrival airports is considered a sound operating practice.