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B737-200 flight crew unable to understand the ATIS with computer generated voice. Too much time away from the loop in attempting to get proper WX for approach. One of numerous reports regarding this problem, reference acn 368833.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 368831 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199704 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : stl |
| State Reference | MO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 25000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Route In Use | arrival star : star |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 6400 flight time type : 2200 |
| ASRS Report | 368831 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | procedure or policy : unspecified |
Narrative:
Just prior to descent into stl the first officer said he would get the ATIS, if I would listen to the radio. After several mins, he stated that stl had the automated WX/ATIS and that it was VFR but he could not understand all of the information. I feel that this form of ATIS is a safety concern for 2 reasons. First, it takes 1 crew member out of the loop, far too long, especially in high density areas and at times when the workload can increase, ie, descent/approach and complex stars. The other factor is even if you take time to listen to the ATIS, several times if you can't understand the WX, it does not do any good. The reason we get the ATIS, is so that we plan ahead and not be surprised by the WX on approach. If you can't understand the information, then the time spent is wasted.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737-200 FLC UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE ATIS WITH COMPUTER GENERATED VOICE. TOO MUCH TIME AWAY FROM THE LOOP IN ATTEMPTING TO GET PROPER WX FOR APCH. ONE OF NUMEROUS RPTS REGARDING THIS PROB, REF ACN 368833.
Narrative: JUST PRIOR TO DSCNT INTO STL THE FO SAID HE WOULD GET THE ATIS, IF I WOULD LISTEN TO THE RADIO. AFTER SEVERAL MINS, HE STATED THAT STL HAD THE AUTOMATED WX/ATIS AND THAT IT WAS VFR BUT HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE INFO. I FEEL THAT THIS FORM OF ATIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR 2 REASONS. FIRST, IT TAKES 1 CREW MEMBER OUT OF THE LOOP, FAR TOO LONG, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH DENSITY AREAS AND AT TIMES WHEN THE WORKLOAD CAN INCREASE, IE, DSCNT/APCH AND COMPLEX STARS. THE OTHER FACTOR IS EVEN IF YOU TAKE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE ATIS, SEVERAL TIMES IF YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE WX, IT DOES NOT DO ANY GOOD. THE REASON WE GET THE ATIS, IS SO THAT WE PLAN AHEAD AND NOT BE SURPRISED BY THE WX ON APCH. IF YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE INFO, THEN THE TIME SPENT IS WASTED.
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.