Information Charley

[grimmrad]

Quick question for any professional (or non-) pilot looking in. In UA on channel 9 you often here upon approach or taxying "We have information so and so" e.g. Charley or during approach that information Charley is current.
What is that?
Thanks

[mcgoo]

that will be the current ATIS information which is updated every half an hour, each update is lettered, ie a,b,c,d etc, this information covers runway information, met info, QNH, and wind direction and speed etc

[172driver]

that will be the current ATIS information which is updated every half an hour, each update is lettered, ie a,b,c,d etc, this information covers runway information, met info, QNH, and wind direction and speed etc

Correct, except it's also updated whenever a significant change (wind direction, QNH, runway change) occurs.

[slim_slag]

grimmrad,

They use the phonetic letter to identify the broadcast where a controller records things like the 'weather' and runways in use on a tape, then that weather loop is broadcast on a dedicated frequency. So you are a pilot and listen to the weather on that frequency 30 miles out and it's 'Charlie', that identifies the weather when the controller recorded it some time ago (the time will be in the broadcast). If the weather/runways change enough for the controller to record a new set of observations he will call it 'Delta', then Echo, then Foxtrot etc

When you contact the controller in charge of airspace around that airport, you might tell him you have information Charlie - the one you listened to 30 miles out. That lets the controller know what weather you wrote down. If you say you have 'charlie' and a controller has changed it to 'Delta', the controller will say 'information Delta is current' and then you can go to ATIS frequency and get the correct weather. Or the controller will tell you what you need to know. Sometimes the controller in charge of airspace will just tell the pilot what letter is current, and if it's different to what the pilot wrote down then the pilot will need to duial up the ATIC frequency and update his weather record.

Call 718-656-0956 and you will get the 'weather' at JFK. This is an automated station which is near real time, so it doesn't have the 'Charlie' (or Delta, or Echo...) but you get much the same information.

[grimmrad]

Thank you all for your answers and efforts, very informative indeed! Now I know what it is.

Best