Definition
An ICAO-defined service that delivers Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) messages to aircraft as text via data link, rather than (or in addition to) the conventional spoken broadcast over a VHF radio frequency. The text contains the same airport information found in a voice ATIS, including active runway, weather, altimeter setting, NOTAMs, and other operational notes, identified by a phonetic letter code that updates each time the information changes.
Plain English
It is the standard airport information broadcast — runway in use, weather, altimeter, and so on — sent to the cockpit as written text over a data link instead of being read aloud on the radio.
Context Anchor
Seen in AIM glossary material and in aircraft or flight-planning systems that can receive airport information digitally before departure or arrival.
Derivation
ICAO is the International Civil Aviation Organization, the body that publishes globally agreed aviation terms. 'Data link' refers to a digital communication channel between aircraft and ground stations. The term is labelled an 'ICAO Term' because it is the internationally standardized name for this service.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces voice frequency congestion and gives pilots a written copy of current airport information they can review at their own pace.
Intuition Check
Do not read “terminal” as the passenger building. Here it means the airport-area operation where aircraft are arriving, departing, and being sequenced.
Example Sentence 1
Before contacting clearance delivery, the crew pulled up D-ATIS on the cockpit display and noted that Information Bravo was current.
Example Sentence 2
Before departure the pilot reviewed the Data Link Automatic Terminal Information Service message for runway and weather updates.