What is the primary purpose of ATIS?

The primary purpose of ATIS, or Automatic Terminal Information Service, is to relieve frequency congestion at busy airports. ATIS broadcasts comprehensive information about current weather conditions, active runways, and other important operational details for pilots. By providing this information in a recorded format that pilots can access before contacting air traffic control, ATIS helps reduce the volume of routine communications on the frequency. This allows air traffic controllers to focus on managing flight operations rather than repeating this information for multiple aircraft, thus enhancing safety and efficiency in high-traffic environments.