Originally Posted by
oldveedubs
Usually AWOS updates minutely while ATIS is hourly disregarding any special reports. If you want to go flying during a marginal day and the ATIS is 30 mins old...call up the AWOS and see what is current. The phone number can be found in the AF/D.
The ATIS is referenced from an ASOS/AWOS station and the only significant difference is that the winds are magnetic...the ONLY weather source that has winds magnetic.
Flight Plan Box 3
[
Which brings me to my next question...why does my airport, which does not have a 24/hour control tower, have an ASOS that only updates HOURLY, regardless of the time of day?
The answer I used to give is because FSS used to be based on the field so they provided a local airport advisory...but now they're off the field and they don't do any monitoring so I guess it's just up to you to figure out what the weather's like.