Tower windspeed calls

[Draginass]

Question for a qualified controller about the technicalities of the tower controller calling winds. Please no opinions, just facts.

1. Is the tower controller required to report the winds including gusts to landing pilots?

2. When gusts are reported in the ATIS, are controllers required to report gusts as well?

3. If gusts are reported in ATIS, does the pilot have to assume that the gusts are there, regardless of controller reported windspeed and direction. In other words, if the ATIS says winds are 300/22G34, and the tower controller says winds are 310/25, can I assume that there are not gusts at that point?

Please provide a reference, if possible. Thanks.

 

[LazyLightnin']

1- No
2- Tower will give you the winds how they read them
3- Refer to answer 2.

 

[DLconnection]

the only time that the winds are "required" are when there is a tailwind of any kind. a tailwind is anything more than 90 degrees. some controllers feel a morale obligation to give u the winds when there is a strong crosswind, yet not required.
the only other time that the winds would be issued is if a windshear report is received or if wind shear alerts go off in the tower.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

Yeah, only required to issue wind when any sort of tailwind component exists....also during times of windshear/microbursts for 20 minutes until last report. As for the moral obligation.....I usually read the wind 99% of the time for landing aircraft, rarely for departures due to the fact the windsock sits right by the rwy.

 

[samballs]

Yeah, only required to issue wind when any sort of tailwind component exists....also during times of windshear/microbursts for 20 minutes until last report. As for the moral obligation.....I usually read the wind 99% of the time for landing aircraft, rarely for departures due to the fact the windsock sits right by the rwy.

Or just wait for a DL flight to pass thru, they'll ask you ten times, just to make sure we all hear them asking for a wind check