Bea sd a ia ARINC COMMUNICATION ADRESSING & REPORTING SYSTEM - (ACARS) .IN ION Electronic and digital processes are used in many of today's aircraft for a variety of purposes, Navigation, dissemination of information, flying and controlling the aircraft. It should be bore in mind that as each manufacturer introduces such a system to the market the chances are that new names: for it are added to the dictionary of terms. For instance an Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) is much the same as a Multi-Function Display System (MFDS), the main difference being the manufacturer. ci INI DI ING PI ACARS ‘The ACARS is a di-"tal data link for either ground-air or air-ground connections. The system reduce the flight crew's workload because it transmits routine reports automaticaiiy and simplifies other reporting. The ACARS network is made up of three sections: * Airbome System. © Ground Network. * Airline Operations Center. The airbome system has an ACARS Management Computer (MU) which manages the incoming and outgoing messages, and a Multi-Purpose interactive Display Unit (MPIDU) which is used by the flight crew to interface with the ACARS system. A printer can also be installed to allow incoming messages to be printed for future reference. ACARS operates using the VHF 3 communications system on a frequency of 131.55 MHz. Since ACARS only operates on one frequency, all transmitted messages must be as short as possible. To achieve a short message, a special code block using a maximum of 220 characters is transmitted in a digital format. If longer messages are required, more than cne block will be transmitted. Each CARS message takes approximately 1 second of airtime to be sent. Sending and receiving data over the ACARS network reduces the number of voice contacts required on any one flight, thereby reducing communication workload. esbad ACARS operates in two modes: * Demand Mode. * Polled Mode. :MANI IDE The demand mode allows the flight crew of airbome equipment to initiate communications. To transmit a message, the MU determines if the ACARS Channel is free from other communications from other ACARS, if it is clear, the message is sent. If the ACARS VHF channel is busy, then the MU waits until the frequency is available. The ground station sends a reply to the message transmitted from the aircraft. If an error reply or no reply is received, the MU Continues to transmit the message at the next opportunity. After six attempts (and failures), the airborne equipment notifies the flight crew. POLLED MODE In the polled mode, the ACARS only operates when interrogated by the ground facility. The ground facility routinely uplinks “questions” to the aircraft equipment ‘and when a channel is free the MU responds with a transmitted message. The MU organises and formats flight data prior to transmission and upon request, the flight information is transmitted to the ground facility. . : ‘The ground station receives and relays messages or reports tothe ARINC . ACARS Control Center. The control center sorts the messages and sends them to the operator's control canter (several airlines participate in the ACARS network). The ACARS also reduces the congestion of the VHF communication channels because transmissions of ACARS take fractions of a second while the same Tepor/message in aural form may have taken in excess of ten seconds,