Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Total 970
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Human Factors
Reaching 8 NM due south of the BTL airport; Tower was tuned in and it was fairly busy we made contact about 6.5 from airport we were directed to proceed to left traffic for 23L; about reaching 3 NM from the airport ATC alerted us to traffic that departed 23L was at our 12 o'clock opposite direction; same altitude; and suggested that we turn westbound to avoid; traffic was immediately noted; instructor pilot took controls to avoid; we were approximately 300-500 feet from the other aircraft. Aircraft never showed up on flight watch; Traffic Information System (TIS); and there was no communication that could be heard from that aircraft departing while we were on frequency to indicate that they were going to be southbound.
Instructor pilot inbound to BTL reported a NMAC with a departure aircraft that did not display on traffic information service.