Section 4. Automatic Flight Information Service (AFIS)

  1. GENERAL
  1. AFIS is available at airports without an operating control tower and receiving LAA.
  2. Use the AFIS to provide advanced non‐control information to aircraft, such as airport, meteorological, and pertinent NOTAM information.

NOTE-

Use of the AFIS by pilots is not mandatory but pilots who use two-way radio communication with the FSS are urged to use the service.

  1. FSS personnel must provide aircraft LAA information when the AFIS is not available.
  2. FSS personnel must review the AFIS recording for completeness, accuracy, speech rate, and proper enunciation before being transmitted.
  3. Broadcast, on the LAA frequency, the new airport AFIS phonetic alphabet identifier after each new recording.
  4. After establishing two‐way radio communication, if the pilot does not state that he/she has the current AFIS code, the specialist must either:
  1. Use LAA procedures to issue pertinent AFIS information, or
  2. Advise the pilot to return to the AFIS frequency.
  1. AFIS broadcasts may be suspended within specified time periods. During these periods, the AFIS must contain a brief statement that the AFIS is suspended for the specified time and pilots should contact the FSS for LAA.

PHRASEOLOGY-

(Airport name) FLIGHT INFORMATION BROADCASTS ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL (time). CONTACT (facility name) RADIO ON (frequency) FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION.

  1. Part‐time and seasonal facilities must record a message with the appropriate frequency and facility contact information as well as known information regarding resumption of LAA.

PHRASEOLOGY-

(Name of FSS) HOURS OF OPERATION ARE (time) LOCAL TIME TO (time) LOCAL TIME. THE COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY IS (frequency) PILOT CONTROLLED LIGHTING IS AVAILABLE ON (frequency). FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT (name of FSS) ON (frequency).
(Name of FSS) IS CLOSED FOR THE WINTER SEASON. THE COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY IS (frequency). PILOT CONTROLLED LIGHTING IS AVAILABLE ON (frequency). FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT (name of FSS) ON (frequency).

  1. FORMAT
  1. Begin each new AFIS message with the airport/facility name and a phonetic alphabet letter. Specialists must speak the phonetic alphabet letter at the end of the message and be used sequentially, beginning with “ALPHA,” ending with “Zulu.” Full‐time facilities must repeat the letter without regard to the beginning of a new day. Part-time facilities must identify the first resumed broadcast message with “ALPHA.”
  2. Maintain an AFIS message that reflects the most current local airport information.
  1. Make a new AFIS recording when any of the following occur:
  1. Upon receipt of any new official weather, regardless of any change in values.
  2. When runway braking action reports are received that indicate runway braking is worse than what was included in the current AFIS broadcast.
  3. When there is a change in any other pertinent data for the airport or surrounding area, such as change in favored runway, new or canceled NOTAMs, AIRMETs, G-AIRMETS, Convective SIGMETs, CWAs, PIREPs, or other information that facilitates the repetitive transmission of essential but routine information.
  1. Omit rapidly changing data. When this occurs, the AFIS must contain a statement advising pilots what facility to contact for the omitted data.

EXAMPLE-

“For latest ceiling/visibility/altimeter/wind/(other conditions) contact (facility and frequency).”

  1. Use the following format and include the following in AFIS broadcast as appropriate:
  1. (Airport/facility name) airport information.
  2. Phonetic alphabet designator.
  3. Special routing procedures in effect (when appropriate for the Ketchikan area).
  4. Time of the AFIS preparation (UTC) followed by the word “Zulu.”
  5. Include the current weather observation and other pertinent remarks. The ceiling/sky conditions, visibility, and obstruction to vision may be omitted if the ceiling is above 5,000 feet and the visibility is more than five miles.
  1. An aviation surface report is considered current for one hour beyond the standard time of observation (H+00) unless superseded by a special or local observation or by the next hourly report.
  2. Do not broadcast obsolete data.

EXAMPLE-

“The weather is better than five thousand and five.”

  1. Favored runway and additional local information, as required.
  2. NOTAMs concerning local NAVAIDs and field conditions pertinent to flight.

EXAMPLE-

“Notices to Air Missions, Iliamna NDB out of service.” “Transcribed weather broadcast out of service.”

  1. Runway braking action or runway condition codes when provided. Include the time of the report.

PHRASEOLOGY-

RUNWAY (number) condition code (first value, second value, third value) AT (time).

EXAMPLE-

“Runway three‐six condition code two, two, one at one zero one eight Zulu.”

REFERENCE-

FAA Order JO 7110.10, Para 4-3-3, Elements and Phraseology.

  1. Low‐level wind shear advisory, including those contained in the TAFs and in PIREPs. Include PIREP information at least 20 minutes following the report.

EXAMPLE-

“Low‐level wind shear is forecast.”

  1. Unauthorized laser illumination events. When a laser event is reported, include reported unauthorized laser illumination events on the AFIS broadcast for one hour following the last report. Include the time, location, altitude, color, and direction of the laser as reported by the pilot.

PHRASEOLOGY-

UNAUTHORIZED LASER ILLUMINATION EVENT, (UTC time), (location), (altitude), (color), (direction).

EXAMPLE-

“Unauthorized laser illumination event at zero one zero zero Zulu, eight‐mile final runway one eight at three thousand feet, green laser from the southwest.”

  1. Man‐portable air defense systems (MANPADS) alert and advisory. Specify the nature and location of the threat or incident, whether reported or observed, and by whom, time (if known), and notification to pilots to advise ATC if they need to divert.

PHRASEOLOGY-

MANPADS ALERT. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION. MANPADS THREAT/ATTACK/POST‐EVENT ACTIVITY OBSERVED/REPORTED BY (reporting agency) (location) AT (time, if known). (When transmitting to an individual aircraft) ADVISE ON INITIAL CONTACT IF YOU WANT TO DIVERT.

EXAMPLE-

“MANPADS alert. Exercise extreme caution. MANPADS threat reported by TSA, Anchorage area. Advise on initial contact if you want to divert.” “MANPADS alert. Exercise extreme caution. MANPADS attack observed by flight service one‐half mile northwest of airfield at one‐two‐five‐zero Zulu. Advise on initial contact if you want to divert.”

NOTE-

Upon receiving or observing an unauthorized MANPADS alert/advisory, handle in accordance with FAA Order JO 7210.3, paragraph 2-1-10, Handling MANPADS Incidents.

  1. Any other advisories applicable to the area covered by the LAA.
  2. Local frequency advisory.

PHRASEOLOGY-

CONTACT (facility name) RADIO ON (frequency) FOR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES.

  1. Instructions for the pilot to acknowledge receipt of the AFIS message on initial contact.

EXAMPLE-

“Dillingham airport information ALPHA. One six five five Zulu. Wind one three zero at eight; visibility one five; ceiling four thousand overcast; temperature four, dew point three; altimeter two niner niner zero. Favored runway one niner. Notice to Airmen, Dillingham V-O-R out of service. Contact Dillingham Radio on one two three point six for traffic advisories. Advise on initial contact you have ALPHA.”

“Kotzebue information ALPHA. One six five five Zulu. Wind, two one zero at five; visibility two, fog; ceiling one hundred overcast; temperature minus one two, dew point minus one four; altimeter three one zero five. Altimeter in excess of three one zero zero, high pressure altimeter setting procedures are in effect. Favored runway two six. Weather in Kotzebue surface area is below V-F-R minima—an ATC clearance is required. Notice to Airmen, Hotham NDB out of service. Contact Kotzebue Radio on one two three point six for traffic advisories and advise intentions. Advise on initial contact you have ALPHA.”