The reporter suggests that ATIS broadcast be made at half past the hour instead of on the hour.

Attributes
ACN	107932
Time
Date	198902
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ipt
State Reference	PA
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 11000
ASRS Report	107932
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I believe that the ATIS should be taken at half past the hour when it is not necessary to take it more than once per hour. During times of rapidly changing WX, readings taken as often as necessary are still desirable. ATIS has historically been changed with respect to readings taken at 50 mins past the hour in the northeast corridor where I generally fly. This time is close to the time the hourly sequence is taken. I am under the impression that the ATIS and the hourly sequence are taken by 2 different groups of people at 2 different locations. There has been no cost savings in the process of the ATIS being taken at approximately the same time as the hourly sequence. The reason behind my request is the fact that if I leave my departure airport with the latest hourly sequence in hand and arrive at my destination at about 45 mins after the hour (picking up an ATIS that may be as much as 55 mins old), this ATIS could be quite old. By changing to an ATIS reading time of 30 mins past the hour, the information could be much more useful (accurate) to me. This would entail no additional costs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE REPORTER SUGGESTS THAT ATIS BROADCAST BE MADE AT HALF PAST THE HOUR INSTEAD OF ON THE HOUR.

Narrative: I BELIEVE THAT THE ATIS SHOULD BE TAKEN AT HALF PAST THE HOUR WHEN IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO TAKE IT MORE THAN ONCE PER HR. DURING TIMES OF RAPIDLY CHANGING WX, READINGS TAKEN AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY ARE STILL DESIRABLE. ATIS HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN CHANGED WITH RESPECT TO READINGS TAKEN AT 50 MINS PAST THE HR IN THE NE CORRIDOR WHERE I GENERALLY FLY. THIS TIME IS CLOSE TO THE TIME THE HOURLY SEQUENCE IS TAKEN. I AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE ATIS AND THE HOURLY SEQUENCE ARE TAKEN BY 2 DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE AT 2 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. THERE HAS BEEN NO COST SAVINGS IN THE PROCESS OF THE ATIS BEING TAKEN AT APPROX THE SAME TIME AS THE HOURLY SEQUENCE. THE REASON BEHIND MY REQUEST IS THE FACT THAT IF I LEAVE MY DEP ARPT WITH THE LATEST HOURLY SEQUENCE IN HAND AND ARRIVE AT MY DEST AT ABOUT 45 MINS AFTER THE HOUR (PICKING UP AN ATIS THAT MAY BE AS MUCH AS 55 MINS OLD), THIS ATIS COULD BE QUITE OLD. BY CHANGING TO AN ATIS READING TIME OF 30 MINS PAST THE HR, THE INFO COULD BE MUCH MORE USEFUL (ACCURATE) TO ME. THIS WOULD ENTAIL NO ADDITIONAL COSTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.