[09MAR19] IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ACARS OPERATION

[rsrandazzo]

Captains,

By now most of you are aware that we have pushed some updates for the PMDG 747 Queen of the Skies II.

One important item that comes with this update is a couple of changes to ACARS that I just realized we didn't document (yet) anywhere you'd find it.

So- bear with me here, but there are a couple of things you will want to know:

1. Before you can activate the ACARS datalink, you will need to have the IRUs aligned. This is behavior that is accurate to the airplane that we left out initially, but finally finished implementing. If you are in the habit of running to the center CDU to log into acars in a cold/dark airplane- you will want to change that habit to getting your IRUs online first!
2. Once you have access to the ACARS LOGIN page, you will notice that you have to do a bit more button tapping here. Just fill in the prompt boxes as you are used to (they should be pretty self explanatory) Essentially, you need to enter the ORIG, DEST, ETA (estimated time of departure), ETE (estimated time enroute) and your ATC FLT ID.

ACARSLOGIN.JPG


Now- the ATCID seems to confuse folks- even some who have worked in the airline business, so here is a quick primer:

Lets use British Airways as an example:
AIRLINE ID (two letters) = BA
ATC FLT ID (up to 7 positions) = BAW1234

When in doubt, if you cannot recall, just look at how many prompt boxes you have to fill under the ATC FLT ID header. There are seven boxes... that should remind you: BAW1234.

I hope that helps!

[Ausflight]

Excellent Robert thankyou for the update information.😊
Regards.

[johnliem]

Thank you.

[Peter Lund]

Thanks Robert,

I don´t know how it works in the real aircraft and it is just a simple question, but should the STA with ORIG and DEST be there ?
The reason asking is the for me the STA is Scheduled Time of Arrival which wouldn´t make sense if it´s the airport codes that should be entered or does it have another meaning ?

[krodgers]

Have never heard of a “standard time of arrival.” Who uses this? ORIG STA and DEST STA is is a reference to the STAtion.

[Brizer]

The latest Update on the ACARS worked a charm for me. Figured that STA=STAtion, or else why would it be labelled that way.

[Ephedrin]

Have never heard of a “standard time of arrival.” Who uses this? ORIG STA and DEST STA is is a reference to the STAtion.

Kyle,

do you know why Boeing called it "station" in the ACARS? On the EFIS panel STA is used for nav stations and airports are ARPT. While this is one of those things you'll probably never forget anymore once you've heard it, it's still a little strange and inconsequent on one and the same airplane.

[krodgers]

do you know why Boeing called it "station" in the ACARS? On the EFIS panel STA is used for nav stations and airports are ARPT. While this is one of those things you'll probably never forget anymore once you've heard it, it's still a little strange and inconsequent on one and the same airplane.

ACARS isn't a Boeing thing - it's an ARINC thing. Crew Station, Outstation, Station Manager, Ground Station - all very common references to airports in industry speak - much larger than Boeing, and even larger than ARINC.

[Ephedrin]

thanks! makes sense...

[Peter Lund]

Have never heard of a “standard time of arrival.” Who uses this? ORIG STA and DEST STA is is a reference to the STAtion.

Sorry, I meant Scheduled Time of Arrival and thank you for clarifying.

[DDowns]

ETA Estimated Time of Arrival is the standard arrival estimate that I'm familiar with from both military and commercial ops

[xTiMm_]

Great info! Was confused why I couldn't do acars uplink

BUT: Could you not simply implement via ACARS a metar request ?!
Its just the most important thing. Like others did: Options to choose the source (VATSIM, IVAO, ActiveSky).

This would be awesome!
But the Update in general is nice!!

[bmcl26]

Great update Robert, I stumbled upon this after I installed the update and Tried a flight. When I could not get logged on I did wonder if the fact that the IRUs were not aligned and waited and tried again and success. Love the PBR reflections a numerous improvement tweaks in the Release Notes.

[rsrandazzo]

Bill,

Glad to know you saw this and got it sorted out.

PMDG: Tripping Up Our Customers With Bits of Realism since 1997™

[CMD777]

Wondered why all of a sudden there where more empty fields to fill in than before. Thanks for the update.

[RichardMcDonaldWoods]

I am still confused about the sequence for ACARS initiation.
I get to the point where the ND says that Time to Align for all 3 ILSs shows 0 min, and STAT shows IRS ALIGN MODE L/C/R items, and yet with all fields entered on the DLINK INIT 1/2, logon does not occur. So I feel that I have not yet understood the strict sequence of necessary actions.
Is it true that I have to leave the IRS switches at ALIGN until the time out, then turn them to NAV and await the two chimes before entering the data into the fields of DLINK 1/2 to obtain DLINK ACT?

[cmakris]

I am still confused about the sequence for ACARS initiation.
I get to the point where the ND says that Time to Align for all 3 ILSs shows 0 min, and STAT shows IRS ALIGN MODE L/C/R items, and yet with all fields entered on the DLINK INIT 1/2, logon does not occur. So I feel that I have not yet understood the strict sequence of necessary actions.
Is it true that I have to leave the IRS switches at ALIGN until the time out, then turn them to NAV and await the two chimes before entering the data into the fields of DLINK 1/2 to obtain DLINK ACT?

Place IRS to NAV. Insert Location on the FMC. Wait for the IRS to align and you have proper PFD/ND indications.
Put Departure, arrival and FLno on RTE page
Go to 3rd FMC and complete the Preflight items. Select the line select key for ACARS INIT, after a while the login will be sucesfull

[RichardMcDonaldWoods]

Thanks, Chris. Will try on next flight.

[RichardMcDonaldWoods]

Chis,
I seems that I have to wait for the alignment to complete (with the switches at NAV) before entering the GPS POS into the FMC, and to then enter ORIGIN, DEST and FLT NO and ACTIVATE before DLINK activation.
Otherwise the tendency I had was to enter the GPS POS as soon as requested, and this resulted in the constant display of Time to Align at 0 mins. But simple when you know how!

[alioskycm84]

Hi guys:
Excuse my ignorance, but I really have not managed to do this, if someone could help me with a sequence of images step by step to do it, I would thank you infinitely, Thank you

[cmakris]

Hi guys:
Excuse my ignorance, but I really have not managed to do this, if someone could help me with a sequence of images step by step to do it, I would thank you infinitely, Thank you

Please add a signature to your profile in order to ensure that your posts are signed, with your real name. You were advised/agreed to this requirement when initially establishing an account. Thank you!

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-fo...pdated-25feb19


Regarding your questions, check below, there is also mentioned in the introduction document.

https://support.precisionmanuals.com...-datalink.aspx

[Captain Kevin]

Hi guys:
Excuse my ignorance, but I really have not managed to do this, if someone could help me with a sequence of images step by step to do it, I would thank you infinitely, Thank you

Can I interest you in a video instead? Starting point 1:24:52.

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/413168037

Also, PMDG requires you to sign your posts with your first and last name. Instructions to do so can be found here:

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-fo...pdated-25feb19

[Ausflight]

Can I interest you in a video instead? Starting point 1:24:52.

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/413168037

Also, PMDG requires you to sign your posts with your first and last name. Instructions to do so can be found here:

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-fo...pdated-25feb19

Are you using MCE in your 747?

[Captain Kevin]

Are you using MCE in your 747?

Negative, sir.

[Ausflight]

Great vid Kevin.

[DDowns]

Jan... again. This thread topic is general news and discussion. Do not post problems here, start a new thread with the subject being your problem statement.
Sounds like your weather source became absent during the flight.

[vysous]

You are right. I have deleted my post - I will do some more testing and open the topic at the more appropriate place. Best, Jan.