Air carrier pilot reports chronically weak ATIS at mdw.

Attributes
ACN	714030
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	714030
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport
Primary Problem	Airport
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : mdw.tower

Narrative:

The mdw ATIS has been perpetually weak for years. Normally; airline crews can obtain ATIS information approximately 200 miles out. The mdw ATIS cannot be heard until approximately 115 miles out. By this time; crews are being given a lot of crossing restrictions; vectors; and frequency changes. Crews have very little if any time to brief and prepare for the approach once they obtain the mdw ATIS; which causes things to be rushed. Also; one person must be off the primary ATC frequency just at the time when many crossing restrictions and vectors are being given; which is just the time you want two sets of ears listening to ATC. I believe the weak ATIS at mdw is a safety issue; and hope you can find some way to address it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT RPTS CHRONICALLY WEAK ATIS AT MDW.

Narrative: THE MDW ATIS HAS BEEN PERPETUALLY WEAK FOR YEARS. NORMALLY; AIRLINE CREWS CAN OBTAIN ATIS INFO APPROX 200 MILES OUT. THE MDW ATIS CANNOT BE HEARD UNTIL APPROX 115 MILES OUT. BY THIS TIME; CREWS ARE BEING GIVEN A LOT OF CROSSING RESTRICTIONS; VECTORS; AND FREQ CHANGES. CREWS HAVE VERY LITTLE IF ANY TIME TO BRIEF AND PREPARE FOR THE APCH ONCE THEY OBTAIN THE MDW ATIS; WHICH CAUSES THINGS TO BE RUSHED. ALSO; ONE PERSON MUST BE OFF THE PRIMARY ATC FREQ JUST AT THE TIME WHEN MANY CROSSING RESTRICTIONS AND VECTORS ARE BEING GIVEN; WHICH IS JUST THE TIME YOU WANT TWO SETS OF EARS LISTENING TO ATC. I BELIEVE THE WEAK ATIS AT MDW IS A SAFETY ISSUE; AND HOPE YOU CAN FIND SOME WAY TO ADDRESS IT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.