Visual Approach on ATIS

[Binky]

Recent discussion at the tower I work at about whether or not it's:

A- proper as per MANOPs to advertise the IFR approach as a "visual"
B- beneficial to do so even if it's not

Reason being if it's wide open and beautiful no one's going to fly an RNAV, ILS or NDB approach. Even if those approaches are advertised the IFR unit tells everyone to "call the field in sight for the visual" or everyone will call the field in sight and request it anyways. It's all fine by me, but officially the IFR unit should be co-ordinating anything other than what's on the ATIS for the approach ahead of time as per our agreement. That never happens when it's visual and we are adverising something like an NDB/ILS/RNAV so if it isnt appropriate to advertise the visual, then why not- no one takes the ILS/NDB/RNAV anyhow. What's advertised around the country when its wide open VFR without any other factors such as terrain or noise issues?

[NJ]

Our IFR approach is "Cancel IFR"

On our ATIS we advertise the best approach available for the into-wind runway, but there can be entire days where no aircraft actually does that approach.

[Dave T]

In many of the places I go the ATIS will say IFR approach is the ILS runway 16 or the visual. I hear this all the time on the automated ATIS's at large airports.