An ATIS broadcast is identified by ___.

• A. date/time
• B. phonetic letter code
• C. number
• D. airport name

Answer: (B)

ATIS information is identified by a phonetic letter code spoken as Information Alpha, Information Bravo, and so on. This code uniquely marks the current broadcast, letting you know you’re listening to the latest weather, runway, and other airport data. When you contact ATC, you’ll reference this letter code to ensure you’re using the current information. The codes are designed for clear, unambiguous transmission over voice radios, which is why a letter-based identifier is preferred over a date/time stamp or just the airport name. A date and time can drift or be misheard, and the airport name doesn’t distinguish between different updates, so the phonetic letter code is the most reliable identifier.