Narrative:

Prior to descent from FL430; we attempted to obtain the cys ATIS. We received ATIS time XA31 Z. This was 8 hours prior to our arrival time. ATIS provided no WX except the disclaimer that due to rapidly changing conditions; latest WX would be provided by approach control. It then advised to expect the VOR runway 13 approach. We had no information that cys had a runway 13 VOR approach and the VOR is certainly not aligned to facilitate this approach. On contact with approach control; we advised we did not have a current ATIS and the ATIS we had was 8 hours old. Instead of providing any WX or useful ATC handling; we began to receive a long explanation that the ATIS we received was a blanket ATIS. Then after requesting the GPS approach from milky intersection we were told to proceed to the final initial approach fix for the approach. There was no procedure turn required from milky. After a second request; we were finally cleared as requested. At this time we still had no 'current' cys WX. After being changed to tower; we finally were told the WX was 'about 1.5 miles in rain.' not quite an observation. The blanket ATIS was extremely confusing and caused us to delay making a divert or land decision until we were very close to the field. The conditions were at minimums for the approach (we think) and we were lucky to land. Withholding pertinent field and WX conditions because it is 'easier' is a dangerous practice. Other agencies manage to change ATIS and broadcast specials as conditions change. I believe the situation I described is a definite hazard and should be investigated and such a poor practice should be stopped. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the WX conditions from the time of their original flight planning until arrival varied very little. Generally the station sequences reported moderately low ceilings with rain and fog but no significant orographic or frontal related issues that would result in substantial and rapid changes which would reasonably trigger the use of a long term 'blanket' ATIS broadcast. He further stated he felt that the actual dissemination of the WX by ATC in the area was delayed well beyond the point in time necessary for the flight crew to make informed operational decisions. They received no WX information until in contact with the ATCT local controller.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF C525 RPT THAT CYS ATC FACILITIES FAILED TO PROVIDE TIMELY ATIS WX INFO.

Narrative: PRIOR TO DSCNT FROM FL430; WE ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN THE CYS ATIS. WE RECEIVED ATIS TIME XA31 Z. THIS WAS 8 HOURS PRIOR TO OUR ARR TIME. ATIS PROVIDED NO WX EXCEPT THE DISCLAIMER THAT DUE TO RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS; LATEST WX WOULD BE PROVIDED BY APCH CTL. IT THEN ADVISED TO EXPECT THE VOR RWY 13 APCH. WE HAD NO INFO THAT CYS HAD A RWY 13 VOR APCH AND THE VOR IS CERTAINLY NOT ALIGNED TO FACILITATE THIS APCH. ON CONTACT WITH APCH CTL; WE ADVISED WE DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT ATIS AND THE ATIS WE HAD WAS 8 HRS OLD. INSTEAD OF PROVIDING ANY WX OR USEFUL ATC HANDLING; WE BEGAN TO RECEIVE A LONG EXPLANATION THAT THE ATIS WE RECEIVED WAS A BLANKET ATIS. THEN AFTER REQUESTING THE GPS APCH FROM MILKY INTXN WE WERE TOLD TO PROCEED TO THE FINAL INITIAL APCH FIX FOR THE APCH. THERE WAS NO PROC TURN REQUIRED FROM MILKY. AFTER A SECOND REQUEST; WE WERE FINALLY CLRED AS REQUESTED. AT THIS TIME WE STILL HAD NO 'CURRENT' CYS WX. AFTER BEING CHANGED TO TWR; WE FINALLY WERE TOLD THE WX WAS 'ABOUT 1.5 MILES IN RAIN.' NOT QUITE AN OBSERVATION. THE BLANKET ATIS WAS EXTREMELY CONFUSING AND CAUSED US TO DELAY MAKING A DIVERT OR LAND DECISION UNTIL WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO THE FIELD. THE CONDITIONS WERE AT MINIMUMS FOR THE APCH (WE THINK) AND WE WERE LUCKY TO LAND. WITHHOLDING PERTINENT FIELD AND WX CONDITIONS BECAUSE IT IS 'EASIER' IS A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. OTHER AGENCIES MANAGE TO CHANGE ATIS AND BROADCAST SPECIALS AS CONDITIONS CHANGE. I BELIEVE THE SIT I DESCRIBED IS A DEFINITE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND SUCH A POOR PRACTICE SHOULD BE STOPPED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE WX CONDITIONS FROM THE TIME OF THEIR ORIGINAL FLT PLANNING UNTIL ARR VARIED VERY LITTLE. GENERALLY THE STATION SEQUENCES RPTED MODERATELY LOW CEILINGS WITH RAIN AND FOG BUT NO SIGNIFICANT OROGRAPHIC OR FRONTAL RELATED ISSUES THAT WOULD RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL AND RAPID CHANGES WHICH WOULD REASONABLY TRIGGER THE USE OF A LONG TERM 'BLANKET' ATIS BROADCAST. HE FURTHER STATED HE FELT THAT THE ACTUAL DISSEMINATION OF THE WX BY ATC IN THE AREA WAS DELAYED WELL BEYOND THE POINT IN TIME NECESSARY FOR THE FLT CREW TO MAKE INFORMED OPERATIONAL DECISIONS. THEY RECEIVED NO WX INFO UNTIL IN CONTACT WITH THE ATCT LCL CTLR.

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.