New Tool Provides Digital ATIS at Airports Not Covered by the FAA

SEND, an in-flight connectivity provider, recently introduced its new MyTIS tool. The service aims to bring digital ATIS (D-ATIS) to airports that do not currently have FAA-installed coverage, improving pilots' access to airport weather when flying into smaller airports.

Its name is self-explanatory; D-ATIS is a digital version of traditional ATIS broadcasts, allowing pilots to read airport information. This cuts the hassle of listening to lengthy transmissions, which are often made even longer by interrupting calls on other active frequencies. D-ATIS is also available at a further range since it can’t be intercepted by mountains or terrain.

The FAA established D-ATIS at 76 major US airports but stopped making new installations nearly a decade ago due to budget constraints. This has left over 440 towered airports without the service.

“It is common for high-performance aircraft to begin descent over 150 miles from the airport. The closure rate of aircraft could exceed 15 miles a minute,” explained SEND. “One of the safety benefits of D-ATIS is that the crew can prepare the navigation system for landing if they know the current weather, landing runway(s) and approach being used.”

SEND’s MyTIS tool adds D-ATIS coverage to 148 new airports—82 in the US, 36 in Canada, and 30 in Australia. Additional locations are expected to be added regularly. This gives pilots access to weather information in an advisory capacity before they enter the range of a traditional ATIS transmission. The service is kept short and sweet by leaving out NOTAMs, which pilots must check separately.

MyTIS is currently available to pilots using SEND’s AirText system and will be accessible in early April through the FBOlink app. The service will cost approximately 25 cents per request. FBOlink also offers additional tools such as pre-departure clearance (PDC), D-ATIS, FBO communication, and textual weather updates.

FMI: https://sendaero.com