Narrative:

The gso d-atis once it has been selected on the ACARS will continue to 'refresh' itself even if another d-atis is selected on the next leg. For example; we operate roa-gso-sdf. After landing in gso when ATIS is selected on the ACARS; we get departure ATIS for gso. After departure; we request d-atis for sdf. After sdf ATIS is received; the ACARS flashes an 'updated' ATIS. It will be gso even though we have departed gso; are en route to sdf and have requested the sdf ATIS on the ACARS. We must now re-request sdf ATIS; and once again; the gso ATIS will come up after we get the sdf ATIS. It appears that until we have landed at another airport; the gso ATIS keeps coming back. This is mostly a nuisance; but on the flight in question; we started our approach in IMC and broke out to VFR conditions at about 1200 ft AGL. During the course of the approach in the terminal area; one of us (the operating crew; I don't remember whom) noticed a new ATIS flashing and the time was correct for a new ATIS to be coming out. We reset our altimeters while on the approach; and below 1000 ft AGL noticed that we seemed to be a little low on the PAPI but on the VNAV path. We landed normally and noticed the altimeters both reading 50 ft low relative to field elevation. Upon investigation; we discovered we had set gso altimeter because the 'new' ATIS was gso not sdf. In this case no harm was done; but in low IFR it could present a real problem. I have noticed this anomaly for quite some time in many different aircraft. I do not know if this is a problem with gso or if this is a company ACARS problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 FLT CREW RECEIVE ERRONEOUS SWITCHING OF ACARS ATIS INFO WHEN OPERATING FROM ONE ARPT TO THE NEXT.

Narrative: THE GSO D-ATIS ONCE IT HAS BEEN SELECTED ON THE ACARS WILL CONTINUE TO 'REFRESH' ITSELF EVEN IF ANOTHER D-ATIS IS SELECTED ON THE NEXT LEG. FOR EXAMPLE; WE OPERATE ROA-GSO-SDF. AFTER LNDG IN GSO WHEN ATIS IS SELECTED ON THE ACARS; WE GET DEP ATIS FOR GSO. AFTER DEP; WE REQUEST D-ATIS FOR SDF. AFTER SDF ATIS IS RECEIVED; THE ACARS FLASHES AN 'UPDATED' ATIS. IT WILL BE GSO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE DEPARTED GSO; ARE ENRTE TO SDF AND HAVE REQUESTED THE SDF ATIS ON THE ACARS. WE MUST NOW RE-REQUEST SDF ATIS; AND ONCE AGAIN; THE GSO ATIS WILL COME UP AFTER WE GET THE SDF ATIS. IT APPEARS THAT UNTIL WE HAVE LANDED AT ANOTHER ARPT; THE GSO ATIS KEEPS COMING BACK. THIS IS MOSTLY A NUISANCE; BUT ON THE FLT IN QUESTION; WE STARTED OUR APCH IN IMC AND BROKE OUT TO VFR CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 1200 FT AGL. DURING THE COURSE OF THE APCH IN THE TERMINAL AREA; ONE OF US (THE OPERATING CREW; I DON'T REMEMBER WHOM) NOTICED A NEW ATIS FLASHING AND THE TIME WAS CORRECT FOR A NEW ATIS TO BE COMING OUT. WE RESET OUR ALTIMETERS WHILE ON THE APCH; AND BELOW 1000 FT AGL NOTICED THAT WE SEEMED TO BE A LITTLE LOW ON THE PAPI BUT ON THE VNAV PATH. WE LANDED NORMALLY AND NOTICED THE ALTIMETERS BOTH READING 50 FT LOW RELATIVE TO FIELD ELEVATION. UPON INVESTIGATION; WE DISCOVERED WE HAD SET GSO ALTIMETER BECAUSE THE 'NEW' ATIS WAS GSO NOT SDF. IN THIS CASE NO HARM WAS DONE; BUT IN LOW IFR IT COULD PRESENT A REAL PROB. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ANOMALY FOR QUITE SOME TIME IN MANY DIFFERENT ACFT. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A PROB WITH GSO OR IF THIS IS A COMPANY ACARS PROB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.