Definition
A temporary advisory service provided by a designated facility, not located on the airport, used to relay essential airport information to pilots operating at airports where no other ground-based service is available. RAIS is established to support special events, surges in traffic, or other situations where temporary airport information support is needed, and is announced via NOTAM.
Plain English
A short-term service where a remote facility passes along basic airport information to pilots flying into an airport that does not have its own on-site advisory service. It is set up for special situations, like a fly-in or major event, and is announced ahead of time in a NOTAM.
Context Anchor
A pilot may encounter RAIS when operating at an airport without an operating control tower or local flight service station, especially when checking airport advisories by radio.
Derivation
Remote here means the service is provided from a location away from the airport itself, rather than by a person or facility on the field. The word comes from Latin remotus, meaning 'moved back' or 'distant.' That fits the idea: the information source is some distance away but still serving that airport.
Why Pilots Care
Allows safe operations at airports without control towers, weather observers, or traditional services by delivering essential real-time information directly to the cockpit.
Intuition Check
Do not assume RAIS means the airport is controlled. RAIS provides information; it does not control aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
The NOTAM for the air show announced that a RAIS would be active on a published frequency for the duration of the event.
Example Sentence 2
RAIS data helped the pilot confirm wind direction and visibility before committing to the landing.