ACARS
Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Aviation
| Stands for | Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System |
|---|---|
| Categories | Transportation & Travel |
ACARS stands for Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System, an aviation abbreviation.
Digital datalink that sends short text messages between aircraft and ground stations by VHF radio or satellite, carrying engine data, position reports, weather, gate assignments and messages from airline dispatch. ACARS has been in use since 1978.
Example: Dispatch sent the new gate assignment and connecting-passenger list over ACARS before we landed.
Usage notes
Pronounced "AY-kars." Messages can be printed on a cockpit printer or shown on a display. Airlines automatically log "OOOI" times (out, off, on, in) through it. After Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished in 2014, investigators noted its ACARS transmissions had stopped while separate satellite handshakes continued for hours.
Related abbreviations
More aviation abbreviations
- A&P – Airframe and powerplant
- ACC – Area control centre
- ADF – Automatic direction finder
- ADIZ – Air defense identification zone
- ADS-B – Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast
- AGL – Above ground level
- AIM – Aeronautical Information Manual
- AIRMET – Airmen's Meteorological Information
- AME – Aircraft maintenance engineer
- AOG – Aircraft on ground
- AP – Autopilot
- APU – Auxiliary power unit