ACARS

Aircraft Communications Addressing, and Reporting System (ACARS)

ACARS is a digital datalink system for transmission of short messages between aircraft and ground stations via airband radio or satellite. 

The protocol was designed by ARINC and deployed in 1978, using the Telex format. More ACARS radio stations were added subsequently by SITA.

ACARS messages will be sent as soon as the Aircraft detects an antenna. If no antenna is detected the message will be halted and sent later.

ACARS integration with N-OC is set up in the menu COM CHANNELS:

COM:

The airline pay ARINC/SITA per message sent. To minimize the cost, it is possible to bounce the ACARS message from the ARINC OPSCENTER or the SITA Gateway to an email account.

Example:

N-OC accepts the following ACARS messages: 

DEP

ARR

A80

Note: If you receive new messages from the pilot, a circle with a number will indicate the number of new messages.

M3K - OUT

M3B - OFF

M3I - ON

M31 - IN

M31 - M34

These messages are mainly used in the APAC area.

M31 OUT

M1A TAX

M32 OFF

M33 ON

M4A

M34

M3A - not supported

M3E 

M39 -  not supported

RTN

Flight activity info

The data from the ACARS message will update the Flight activity window.

All received Messages can be found in the message tab.

Times are in the Times section

Notes:

ACARS doesn't have Delay reasons in the message. Those come from the MVT message or entered manually

The last message wins. Meaning that if MVT is received after the Acars, then the mvt times are taken.

If the Arrival messages come before the Departure message, there is a risk that the Dep message will be rejected.

Fuel is in the Fuel section

Down link

NOC can receive A81, A84 and AGM text messages from the aircraft.

The message is shown on the flight as a MVT note and on the aircraft panel number of unread messages are shown.

Receiving the message

1. Right click in the aircraft panel
2. Select the ACARS symbol or click on the message bubble.
3.  An open the message window will appear and the messages from the selected aircraft will be shown.

Note: You can search for a period or aircraft.

Uplink

The uplink method can be different from airline to airline depending on the Vendor of the equipment in the aircraft and the communication vendor (ARINC, Sita etc.).

1. The Communication vendor will search for the aircraft and deliver the message.
2. Enter the message, click Next.                                    
3. A window with the ACARS receivers will open.

Note: For this to work, you need to specify an ACARS template for the aircraft. See Aircraft Uplink template.

Configuration in Integration Factory 

You need to create a template and an event.

1. In the Integration factory you create the basic body of the message.
2. Press “Finish” to execute.                                    
3. The template is used in the ACARS Message Uplink Event tab which can be found in the Automation Factory menu.

COM Channel

1. Add the receiver COM channel.

Setup Parameters

Go to Setup while searching for “Setup” in the search field.

ACARSFuelUnit

Fuel unit for ACARS messages

1. Enter either kgs/liters/tons/lbs/gallons. Fuel unit multiplier is used to multiply the input from ACARS.

Note: For default "Kgs" is selected. The final selection must be saved.

Fuel unit multiplier:

ACARSReferenceDateMode

Defines ACARS mode for searching flights

Options: UTC/Local/Ignore

AllowedIncomingMessagePeriod

Hours before and after current time. Sleiper will only process incoming messages for flights in this period. Empty field disables the setting.

Format: hours, hours 

Note: This parameter is important if you operate the same flight number every day.

Refer to: Incoming Messages for further details.