ATIS
 

Can anybody shed some light on what the frist number represents at the begining of an ATIS transmission, the number today for the Edinburgh transmission is an 8 which precedes 16 which is the date.

Just not sure what the eight is?, cant represent the number of hours because it is for 24 hours according to the times given in the transmission.

e.g forecast 8 16 time 12 hours to 8 17 time 12 hours 060/15

Any ideas anyone?

ATIS normally has a code letter assigned - E.g. "This is XYZ information papa timed at 0150 zulu - "......Sure you're listening to ATIS? Are you listening in to the VOLMET broadcasts by any chance?

ATIS's are not preceeded by any number.

Are you sure you mean an ATIS? Could you perhaps be refering to a METAR or a TAF?

In general ATIS don't include a forecast unless conditions are changing at present.

I think you will find that the 8 is the word 'date' at the start of the forecast added after the 'information'

8 16, is actually 'date 16', ie 16th April

Hope this helps

Listened just now on 131.35.
"This is Edinburgh information Mike, time 18.20, runway in use is.......
DO.

It is the ATIS i am listening to by telephone on 0131 333 6216, it does include a forecast and i think the 8 i was referring to is actually date it just sounds like 8.

Thanks for the suggestions

I just called it and got:

"Edingburgh flight information service follows:...<pause>....Mike timed at 1220..etc..."

When you ring the ATIS by phone it will read the TAF and also the current ATIS

So you are correct in that it will be saying date, for example,
"1712/1812 06018G30KT 9999..."
would be read out as:
"Forecast Period: Date 17 Time 12 hours to Date 18 Time 12 hours, 060 18 Gusting 30 10 km or more..."

Clarification
 

Just to clarify -- when you ring an airports' ATIS number it will read you the TAF too if available, but when you listen to the radio broadcast, it will only contain the latest METAR (plus the other info)?