Narrative:

I was working as the radar approach controller at csg approach with all 3 sectors combined. I accepted the handoff on light transport who was landing at our primary airport. He checked on the frequency at about xx:45 local time. I inquired as to whether he had the current ATIS. He inquired as to whether the tower was open. I advised that it was open for another 15 mins, closing on the hour, and issued him the WX information and advised him to expect the visibility approach to runway 23. I also had a thought or two to myself about the quality of the preflight briefing. A moment later, the pilot called again advising that he had gone to the ATIS and it was reporting that the tower was closed. I checked with the local controller and he confirmed that the closing ATIS was on the air. Although our standard script is that the 'tower is closed from 11 pm to 7 am,' there is no telling what it actually said. Even so, having this broadcast on prior ot he actual closing can obviously create confusion. This situation could be prevented, but instead is aggravated because we are scheduled to close at 3400 and our work schedule is from 1500-2300. Thus, there is quite a rush to ensure that all closing requirements are met in time to be down the stairs by 2300 at the latest. The situation would be easily resolved by changing the work schedule to 1515-2315 for all closing controllers. We are already scheduled to arrive 15 mins prior to opening. This would allow us to close properly and efficiently on the hour as published.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNTIMELY ERRONEOUS ATIS INFORMATION.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING AS THE RADAR APCH CTLR AT CSG APCH WITH ALL 3 SECTORS COMBINED. I ACCEPTED THE HDOF ON LTT WHO WAS LNDG AT OUR PRIMARY ARPT. HE CHKED ON THE FREQ AT ABOUT XX:45 LCL TIME. I INQUIRED AS TO WHETHER HE HAD THE CURRENT ATIS. HE INQUIRED AS TO WHETHER THE TWR WAS OPEN. I ADVISED THAT IT WAS OPEN FOR ANOTHER 15 MINS, CLOSING ON THE HR, AND ISSUED HIM THE WX INFO AND ADVISED HIM TO EXPECT THE VIS APCH TO RWY 23. I ALSO HAD A THOUGHT OR TWO TO MYSELF ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE PREFLT BRIEFING. A MOMENT LATER, THE PLT CALLED AGAIN ADVISING THAT HE HAD GONE TO THE ATIS AND IT WAS RPTING THAT THE TWR WAS CLOSED. I CHKED WITH THE LCL CTLR AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THE CLOSING ATIS WAS ON THE AIR. ALTHOUGH OUR STANDARD SCRIPT IS THAT THE 'TWR IS CLOSED FROM 11 PM TO 7 AM,' THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT IT ACTUALLY SAID. EVEN SO, HAVING THIS BROADCAST ON PRIOR OT HE ACTUAL CLOSING CAN OBVIOUSLY CREATE CONFUSION. THIS SITUATION COULD BE PREVENTED, BUT INSTEAD IS AGGRAVATED BECAUSE WE ARE SCHEDULED TO CLOSE AT 3400 AND OUR WORK SCHEDULE IS FROM 1500-2300. THUS, THERE IS QUITE A RUSH TO ENSURE THAT ALL CLOSING REQUIREMENTS ARE MET IN TIME TO BE DOWN THE STAIRS BY 2300 AT THE LATEST. THE SITUATION WOULD BE EASILY RESOLVED BY CHANGING THE WORK SCHEDULE TO 1515-2315 FOR ALL CLOSING CTLRS. WE ARE ALREADY SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE 15 MINS PRIOR TO OPENING. THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO CLOSE PROPERLY AND EFFICIENTLY ON THE HOUR AS PUBLISHED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.