RPTR CONTENDS THAT THE COMPUTERIZED ATIS AT MDW IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

Narrative

THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS WITH THE FAA'S COMPUTERIZED ATIS VOICE THAT SOUNDS AS IF IT IS GENERATED FROM A COMPUTER THAT WAS DESIGNED IN THE 1970'S. WHENEVER THE ATIS HAS SOMETHING OF CRITICAL INFO THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL WX IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND. WHILE RECEIVING THE ATIS; THERE WAS A RPT ON ABOUT MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB AND ALTS THAT SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS 2000-3000 FT. AFTER ASKING THE CTLR WHAT IT WAS ACTUALLY SAYING WAS FL220-FL350. THIS IS ONLY ONE TIME OF MANY THAT WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THIS HIGHLY OUTDATED VOICE. IN THE PAST; I HAVE HAD TO CONFIRM IMPORTANT NOTAMS THAT COULD NOT BE UNDERSTOOD. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE WILL ALWAYS ASK THE CTLR TO SEE IF IT IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT OR NOT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH MDW TWR SPECIALIST REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: SPOKE TO MDW TWR SPECIALIST ABOUT ATIS. SPECIALIST INDICATED FACILITY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ATIS BEING HARD TO UNDERSTAND. THE FACILITY MONITORS THE ATIS EVERY HR TO ENSURE THAT IT SOUNDS OK. ASKED FOR PHONE DIAL-IN NUMBER. WAS GIVEN (773) 581-9967. ANALYST CALLED TO LISTEN TO COMPUTERIZED ATIS 4 TIMES. ATIS WAS EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE. ANALYST LISTENED TO ATIS ON THE TELEPHONE WITH NO BACKGND NOISE. THERE MAY BE A PROB WITH WHAT FLC IS USING AS LISTENING DEVICE; WITH THE NOISE THAT'S PREVALENT IN THE COCKPIT; EG; SPEAKER; HEADSET.