Information Sierra
ATIS Training Series – Learn Step by Step
This article is part of our ATIS Training Series. In each post, you will:
- listen to a real ATIS message,
- read the full transcription,
- decode the information (weather, runway, approach, warnings),
- and practice with an exam-style question.
💡 On the ICAO English exam, one of the tasks is to listen to an ATIS recording and choose the correct answer from 3 options.
👉 Remember: you can always ask the examiner to play the ATIS one more time. This is allowed and will not affect your score.
🎧 Watch & Listen on YouTube
We prepared a short video with this exact ATIS message from CYAM (Sault Ste. Marie Airport).
👉 Watch the ATIS on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/K056ZxQQsnM
OR
🔊 Play the video on our website, listen carefully, and repeat the message out loud – just like in the real exam.
What is ATIS?
ATIS means Automatic Terminal Information Service.
It is a recording at airports. It tells pilots about:
– the weather,
– the runway in use,
– special information.
Pilots must listen to ATIS before they call the tower. This makes communication faster and safer.
ATIS Example – CYAM (Sault Ste. Marie Airport)
This is a real ATIS message. It was recorded at 16:00 UTC at Sault Ste. Marie Airport, Canada.
ATIS Transcription:
Sault Ste. Marie INFORMATION INDIA, WEATHER AT 16:00 ZULU, WIND VARIABLE AT 2,
VISIBILITY 1/5 MILES, CEILING 9300 BROKEN, 16000 BROKEN, 24000 BROKEN,
TEMPERATURE -1, VIEWPOINT -4, ALTIMETER 2998, APPROACH RNAV RUNWAY 12 AND
RNAV RUNWAY 22, LANDING AND DEPARTING RUNWAYS 12 AND 22, RUNWAY SURFACE
CONDITION, RUNWAY 12,
RUNWAY CONDITION CODE 6, 6, 6, DRY, DRY, DRY, VALID FROM MARCH 3, AT 100 TREE
ZULU, TO MARCH 3, AT 180 TREE ZULU, RUNWAY SURFACE CONDITION, RUNWAY 22,
RUNWAY CONDITION CODE 6, 6, 6,
10% Ice, 10% Ice, 10% Ice, valid from March 3rd, at 1-004 Zulu, to March 3rd, at 1-804 Zulu.
Inform ATC that you have information India.
✈️ Decode the ATIS
– Time: 3rd at 16:00 UTC.,
– Wind: variable at 2 knots,
– Visibility: 15 statute miles (about 24 km),
– Clouds: Broken clouds at: 9,300 feet, 16,000 feet, 24,000 feet,
– Temperature: -1°C, Dew Point -4°C,
– QNH: 1016.5 hPa,
– Altimeter setting: 29.98 inHg,
– Remarks: Cirrus transparent,
Altocumulus covering 5/8 of the sky at 9,300 feet,
Altocumulus covering 1/8 at 16,000 feet,
Cirrus covering 1/8 at 24,000 feet,
✈️ Why is this important?
This ATIS is interesting because:
- QNH 1016.5 hPa / Altimeter 29.98 inHg – ensures correct altimeter setting for safe altitude readings.
- Visibility 15 statute miles – indicates excellent flying conditions.
- Multiple cloud layers (Altocumulus at 9,300 ft & 16,000 ft, Cirrus at 24,000 ft) – important for flight level planning and awareness of mid/high-level weather.
✈️ Practice Question (Exam Style)
You listen to the ATIS. The question is:
What is the QNH?
A) 1005 hPa
B) 1016.5 hPa
C) 1028 hPa
✅ Correct answer: B) 1016.5 hPa
✍ Exam Tip
During the ICAO English exam, you will listen to an ATIS message and answer a question
with 3 choices.
👉 Remember: you can always ask the examiner:
“Could you please play the recording again?”
This is allowed and does not lower your score.
📱 Bonus for Smart Students
If you want more practice, try the ICAO4U mobile app.
It includes many recordings just like the ones you will hear on the exam – ATIS, clearances,
and real pilot–ATC communication.
😏 Think of it as a legal cheat sheet for your exam – everything you need to feel confident,
but 100% allowed!
Download our APP
