ACARS White Paper
ACARS White Paper
ACARS White Paper
The intervening years have seen a sharp increase in This increasing demand for air travel, and
the demand for air travel and the steady addition ongoing technological advances, mean that
of alternative means of transmitting aircraft data. ACARS has never been more valuable to the
These new technologies have enhanced the modern air transport industry, delivering the
geographical coverage of ACARS and developed safest, most reliable technology for pilot-to-ATC
its capability for automatic and manual messaging. communications.
What is ACARS?
ACARS (Aircraft Communication Reporting and Typically, ACARS messages conform to one
Addressing System) is a datalink system used for of three main types: Air Traffic Control (ATC),
the transmission of messages between the pilot Aeronautical Operational Control (AOC) or Airline
and ground stations. These messages can be Administrative Control (AAC).
sent using a variety of communication methods,
including VHF and HF (High Frequency) radio ATC messages include aircraft requests for
channels, or via satellite. departure or oceanic clearances, as well as any
other instructions from ATC to the aircraft. For
The term, ACARS, refers to the complete system AOC purposes, the majority of ACARS data is
that enables ground-to-air aircraft data message used for operational and administrative purposes
communications. This system includes the service and is integral to a wide range of airline process
provider as well as the equipment in the air and on and information exchanges. These include
the ground. communications on connecting gates, updated
arrival times, aircraft weight and balance, and
aircraft and engine health monitoring.
The value of ACARS to the industry
Since the late 1970s, ACARS technology has
become ingrained in global airline flight operations
– underlined by the fact that its capabilities are
linefit as standard across airline fleets around
the world. Today ACARS is part of the fabric of
most airlines, many of whom build their entire
operational processes around the system.
SITAONAIR does more than simply implement provides industrialized levels of service, ensuring
ACARS protocol; it remains a core service provider high availability, resilience and redundancy.
for airlines around the world. SITAONAIR is also independent and agnostic,
separate from OEMs and specific satellite network
Central to SITAONAIR’s position is its ability to providers.
integrate multiple networks, both proprietary and
third party. In addition, SITAONAIR provides one These capabilities ensure that SITAONAIR’s value as
of the largest secure private ground networks a service provider is to support airlines in managing
anywhere in the world, with the capability to link the transition required to reap the benefits of new
ATC, airlines, airports and OEMs. technology, without causing any major disruption.
Combined with 24/7 support and dedicated airline Ultimately, SITAONAIR is managing the complexity
customer support representatives, SITAONAIR of ACARS, so airlines don’t have to.
ACARS in the connected aircraft age This is a prime example of the role ACARS still
plays, adapting to and complementing new
With the IATA expecting airlines to have operated
innovations in airline and aircraft communications.
38.4 million flights in 2017 (up 4.9% on 2016), and
with SITAONAIR estimating around 10 million
Inmarsat SwiftBroadband-Safety
ACARS messages exchanged daily, ACARS is still
the primary means of communication to ATC and Inmarsat SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) is a
airline operations. next-generation flight deck communications
platform that enlists ACARS technology to offer
Indeed, ACARS remains the backbone of aviation a global, secure and high speed IP connectivity
communications, empowering airlines and ANSPs for the cockpit. It delivers faster communications,
to deliver safe, consistent and reliable pilot-to-ATC alongside a dedicated IP connection to the
communications. cockpit, paving the way for both airline operational
applications and future new generation safety
Paul explains: “ACARS has proven its ability to applications.SB-S is well positioned to be the
work alongside more modern methods of ground- primary operational cockpit link with the aircraft,
to-air communication, avoiding the traps that have with VHF networks becoming a required back-up.
snared alternatives by working seamlessly across
all aircraft types and all regions.” As a sign of the technology’s success, and ACARS’
crucial role within that, several airlines, including
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it United Airlines, are to participate in a technology
comes to effective ground-to-air communication. evaluation of SB-S. The technology is being
Each airline needs to consider its own assessed on four Boeing 767 aircraft as part of the
requirements and adopt the most suitable ACARS airline’s commitment to operational, safety and
innovations and methods. For an airline operating service improvements.
in a particularly busy airspace or airport, or those
operating in regions where there is only very SB-S will deliver flexible communications with real-
limited VHF coverage, a mixture of approaches is time flight information that can serve to enhance
often the most appropriate. both airline security and safety. It supports this
through continual positional awareness flight
SITAONAIR and Teledyne cockpit tracking, and the dedicated IP connection to the
comms cellular service cockpit, which supports flight data streaming
and real-time EFB applications, including weather
SITAONAIR and Teledyne have announced a
awareness.
partnership to deliver the aviation industry’s first
ever airline-integrated ACARS datalink terrestrial
SB-S, as a future standard for aircraft
cellular service, illustrating the role the technology
communication, illustrates the ongoing evolution
continues to play in the modern connectivity era.
of ACARS and the key role it continues to play
in innovative and market leading ground-to-air
The partnership marks an important evolution in
communications technology.
airline and aircraft communications. Building on
the datalink services chiefly provided by using
VHF/VDL radio frequencies, the agreement
enables SITAONAIR to integrate terrestrial cellular
services into its core datalink network. The result
is that airlines gain the flexibility of another
transmission channel for aircraft communications.
The MF-VDLm2 infrastructure under deployment As a case in point, the Czech Republic’s ANSP,
by SITAONAIR offers more capacity throughout ANS CR, has enlisted SITAONAIR to deliver a
Europe, and will support the performances “communication gateway” to Prague Airport
required by the CPDLC mandate. through its ACARS network, with the ambition to
roll it out to other Czech airports in the future.
The implementation, together with the ATN routing
protocols, allows a wider range of information to SITAONAIR’s communication gateway will enable
be transmitted and a much faster connection. the Air Navigation Service of the Czech Republic
The nature of these evolving air-to-ground (ANS CR) to support the sending of terminal
communication technologies again demonstrates information (D-ATIS) to arriving aircraft and
ACARS’ technological adaptability in managing departure clearances (DCL) to departing aircraft.
the growth of air and communications traffic. By replacing routine messages carried over
congested voice frequencies with standardized
digital messages, these ATC datalink applications
are minimizing the risk of misunderstandings and
confusion.
WHY SITAONAIR?
SITAONAIR is the air travel industry’s trusted connected aircraft service expert. With its unrivalled industry-
backed heritage, SITAONAIR empowers 400+ airlines and 16,000+ aircraft to navigate the complexity of
connectivity and unlock connected aircraft value. We work in partnership with the air travel community, helping
support its digital transformation, to unlock the true value of data, grow ancillary revenues, and enhance the
passenger experience, operational efficiency and airline safety. Our co-created solutions for passengers,
cockpit and cabin crew, and aircraft data management, equip the industry to address the challenges and value-
generating opportunities it presents.