COMMUNICATIONS, ACARS
Description
Aircraft Operations Manual
4/5.1
PAGE
2
Apr 01/15
2.5
ACARS ground facilities
The ACARS ground stations consist of an ARINC
central computer, a switching network system and
a VHF com radio station. Individual Airline computer
systems are commuting with the ARINC central
computer through the switching network. Fig. 2.
The ARINC Electronics Switching Systems (ESS)
network provides VHF radio coverage to enroute
aircraft and terminal coverage at more than 150
airports in North America. The network covers all of
the United States, some US possessions, and por-
tions of Mexico and Canada.
VHF
TRANSCEIVER
FDAU
CONTROL
DISPLAY
PANEL
PRINTER
AIRCRAFT
SYSTEMS
AND
SENSORS
ACARS
MANAGEMENT
UNIT
Fig. 1 ACARS system schematic