YULspotter From Canada, joined Mar 2006, 145 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3288 times:
Hello.
I recently purchased a scanner and have been listening in on the conversions between the tower and pilots of approaching aircraft.
I'd like to know why does the tower call out the altimeter reading to the pilots of approaching aircraft. I had heard it had something to do with verification of the ILS settings but I'm not sure.
Doug_Or From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 3167 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 3274 times:
The altimeters on the aircraft must be set to local preasure to read correctly. This information is on the ATIS, but when that changes, approach and tower controllers will alert aircraft on frequency to the changes (often times just an updated altimeter setting)
Boeingfixer From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 491 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 3272 times:
Hi YULspotter,
The reason for giving out the altimeter setting is due to the fact that weather is not static. As high and low pressure systems come and go an altimeter needs to be corrected to sea level to indicate field elevation at that time. Otherwise the altimeters would indicate either higher or lower than field elevation.
Also all aircraft in a control area below transition altitude, FL180 in Canada, have to set their altimeters to the ATC setting. That way all aircraft in the same vicinity are using the same altitude reference. Above transition altitude the altimeters are reset to 29.92 inhg or 1013 millibars.
N231YE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 3254 times:
Quoting Boeingfixer (Reply 2): Also all aircraft in a control area below transition altitude, FL180 in Canada, have to set their altimeters to the ATC setting. That way all aircraft in the same vicinity are using the same altitude reference. Above transition altitude the altimeters are reset to 29.92 inhg or 1013 millibars.
Same thing in the U.S.A. Above 18,000ft, class A airspace begins, and the flight levels begin (beginning at FL180). Upon reaching class A, the altimeter must be set to standard, or 29.92in Hg.
I must also mention, that at uncontrolled airports, pilots are supposed to tune into the ATIS to obtain the altimeter reading, as well as local conditions (Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Cloud Cover, etc).
Doug_Or From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 3167 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 3244 times:
Quoting N231YE (Reply 3): I must also mention, that at uncontrolled airports, pilots are supposed to tune into the ATIS to obtain the altimeter reading, as well as local conditions (Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Cloud Cover, e
this is true of all airports, not just uncontrolled.
BoeingFixer From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 491 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 3238 times:
Quoting N231YE (Reply 3): Same thing in the U.S.A. Above 18,000ft, class A airspace begins, and the flight levels begin (beginning at FL180). Upon reaching class A, the altimeter must be set to standard, or 29.92in Hg.
TheGreatChecko From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 1110 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 3222 times:
Quoting N231YE (Reply 3):
I must also mention, that at uncontrolled airports, pilots are supposed to tune into the ATIS to obtain the altimeter reading, as well as local conditions (Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Cloud Cover, etc).
Now, because I feel like being picky and this is tech-ops ...an ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) only exists at a towered airport.
With no tower, its either an ASOS (Automatic Surface Observation System) or AWOS (Automated Weather Observation System) or as I just learned an AWSS (Automated Weather Sensor System).
Without getting too technical, the later three systems observe weather and report it, often changing each transmission.
While the ATIS transmits information, such as weather and runway information, that would congest frequencies at a busier terminal facility and normally do not change more than once an hour. A new one is recorded by the tower each hour unless the weather significantly changes and must be changed. At really large airports, its a creepy robotic voice.
What do you do if the field has no weather reporting? On the ground, set the field elevation into the altimeter. In the air, use the nearest one you can get and keep your eyes out the window so you don't fly into the side of a mountain or tree, the field is VFR only anyways.
For those of you looking for some ATIS humor, here's a link.
Warning, if you are easily offended by language...don't listen!!
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3084 posts, RR: 12 Reply 7, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 3218 times:
Quoting TheGreatChecko (Reply 6): With no tower, its either an ASOS (Automatic Surface Observation System) or AWOS (Automated Weather Observation System) or as I just learned an AWSS (Automated Weather Sensor System).
I guess that last one is some kind of old-fashioned thingy that they have up there in the great north. How's Alaska treating you bud?
TheGreatChecko From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 1110 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 3178 times:
They have weather reporting up here????
Checko
"A pilot's plane she is. She will love you if you deserve it, and try to kill you if you don't...She is the Mighty Q400"
Redcordes From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 245 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 3139 times:
When on an ILS approach, the plates give the altitude at which an aircraft will intercept the Outer Marker if properly on the glideslope. This is a cross-check of the altimeter and the ILS equipment both on the aircraft and the ground. In this day and age with GPS and radio-altimeters, this information is not as necessary as it used to be.
"The only source of knowledge is experience." A. Einstein "Science w/o religion is lame. Religion w/o science is blind."
IAHFLYR From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 4740 posts, RR: 25 Reply 11, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 3088 times:
Quoting TheGreatChecko (Reply 6): While the ATIS transmits information, such as weather and runway information, that would congest frequencies at a busier terminal facility and normally do not change more than once an hour. A new one is recorded by the tower each hour unless the weather significantly changes and must be changed. At really large airports, its a creepy robotic voice.
All true but also the ATIS gives runway/s in use, approach to expect, pertinent NOTAMS such as closed taxiway etc., so should something as that change as well then a new ATIS is made..........creepy robotic, information OKER!!
Quoting Redcordes (Reply 9): When on an ILS approach, the plates give the altitude at which an aircraft will intercept the Outer Marker if properly on the glideslope
OM's are going away very quickly, so I'd use the lightning bolt for an altitude cross check as you won't find any OM's at most U.S. airports for much longer, IAH and HOU they are gone and have been.
Any views shared are strictly my own and do not a represent those of any former employer.
Redcordes From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 245 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 3067 times:
Quoting IAHFLYR (Reply 11): OM's are going away very quickly, so I'd use the lightning bolt for an altitude cross check as you won't find any OM's at most U.S. airports for much longer, IAH and HOU they are gone and have been.
Yes, you are absolutely right. The "lightning bolt" is the correct place to look for the GS intercept altitude. Thanks.
"The only source of knowledge is experience." A. Einstein "Science w/o religion is lame. Religion w/o science is blind."
N231YE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 3061 times:
Quoting TheGreatChecko (Reply 6): Now, because I feel like being picky and this is tech-ops ...an ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) only exists at a towered airport.
With no tower, its either an ASOS (Automatic Surface Observation System) or AWOS (Automated Weather Observation System) or as I just learned an AWSS (Automated Weather Sensor System).
Yeah, Yeah, ATIS, AWOS, ASOS, blah blah I figured out that I screwed that up after the "window of opportunity" to edit was closed.
Jerald01 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 161 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 3030 times:
(1) These things are designed to fly from point A to point B. (2) Altimeters readings depend on the pressure of the air around the aircraft to show correct alititude above sea level.
The air pressure at point A at the time of departure may NOT be the same as the air pressure at point B upon arrival. If a pilot sets his altimeter to the field elevation at point A prior to take-off and does NOT re-set it prior to landing at point B the altimeter may not read his actual height above sea level, thereby placing him in danger.
"There may be old pilots, and there may be bold pilots, but there are darn few green cows"
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3084 posts, RR: 12 Reply 15, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 3020 times:
Quoting IAHFLYR (Reply 11): All true but also the ATIS gives runway/s in use, approach to expect, pertinent NOTAMS such as closed taxiway etc., so should something as that change as well then a new ATIS is made..........creepy robotic, information OKER!!
You gotta love ATIS Monster. The first remark the past few years at STL on December 25 has been "Ho Ho Ho". Made even funnier by ATIS Monster.
MrChips From Canada, joined Mar 2005, 912 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2991 times:
Quoting TheGreatChecko (Reply 6):
While the ATIS transmits information, such as weather and runway information, that would congest frequencies at a busier terminal facility and normally do not change more than once an hour. A new one is recorded by the tower each hour unless the weather significantly changes and must be changed. At really large airports, its a creepy robotic voice.
I've always wondered about the use of computer-generated ATIS messages. We have them at large airports here in Canada, and not a word of a lie, the one at YYC takes almost 5 minutes to cycle through.
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From Canada, joined Mar 2006, 145 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 3167 posts, 
...an ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) only exists at a towered airport.
From United Kingdom, joined May 1999, 9247 posts, 
(1) These things are designed to fly from point A to point B. (2) Altimeters readings depend on the pressure of the air around the aircraft to show correct alititude above sea level.
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