Which statement best describes when a new ATIS recording should be created?

• A. when weather changes
• B. on a fixed schedule
• C. upon receipt of any new official weather
• D. pilot requests only

Answer: (C)

A new ATIS recording is created when new official weather information is received. This means when an official observation or update is issued—such as a METAR or SPECI—that could affect pilots’ decisions, the ATIS should be refreshed to include those current conditions (winds, visibility, cloud base, altimeter, etc.). The goal is to keep pilots informed with the latest, validated weather without requiring them to request updates.

Updating on a fixed schedule or only when a pilot requests it would risk pilots using outdated information or needing extra radio calls, and simply waiting for weather to change without an official update wouldn’t guarantee accuracy. So the trigger is the arrival of new official weather data, ensuring the information in the ATIS remains current and reliable.