Flight Operations Supplementary Manual

7.15. ACARS COMMUNICATIONS

7.15.1. Standardized Phraseology
On the first line of a free text message, type the IATA 3-letter code of the station or office to
which the message is addressed. For example: FCD, MCD, PDC (Pilot Daily Counter), TPE,
LAX, SFO, etc.
Make the free text clear and simple, the abbreviation (appendix 8.1) is preferred; the name and
ID number of the message writer are not required.
To respond to a message, reply using words such as:
ACK - for acknowledge the message,
WILCO - for will act accordingly,
STBY - for message received and stand by for further message
The replying party’s code (ground station only) should be suffixed after the message.
Example:
Initial Downlink message
SEA
RQST GRND POWER DUE APU INOP

Reply Uplink message

WILCO
SEA

If the station fails to respond to a message for any reason, resend the message to FCD. FCD
will contact the station, monitor the message progress and ensure that the actions required are
carried out.
7.15.2. Passenger related information
Passenger related information will be passed from the departure station to destination.
Messages such as the number of the wheel chairs, special meals, etc. are not required to be
sent on from the aircraft in flight, unless they are irregular demands that occur after flight
dispatch.
7.15.3. ETA and Parking Bay
ETA will be calculated automatically by the Company FIS system from Actual Time Departure
plus CFP flight time. The destination station should be informed of the revised ETA only when it
is more than ±15 minutes from the original (calculated) ETA.
Gate assignment, at most destinations, will be sent to the aircraft approximately one hour before
ETA if it is not already shown on the flight release or routine assignment.

Miscellaneous PI-OB-018 Date: 01 Oct 2009

Page: 7-14 Revision: 05
Flight Operations Supplementary Manual

NOTE: The assigned gate is always subject to change due to unexpected circumstances;
this change may not be notified to the crew before landing.

The following stations are not able to send a gate assignment by ACARS - this deficiency will be
marked on the Company Radio List - use Company radio, if necessary:
DPS SGN KMI KMQ NGO NRT OKA SDJ FUK KIX
ATL DFW IAH JFK CDG DXB LHR TSN XMN TAO
CAN CTU DLC HGH KMG NGB PEK PVG SZX

Date: 01 Oct 2009 PI-OB-018 Miscellaneous

Revision: 05 Page: 7-15
Flight Operations Supplementary Manual

7.15.4. Data Link Expense

VHF ATIS and VOLMET should be used whenever available to minimize ACARS weather
information request times.
During flight over the FIRs list below, all aircraft with SATCOM facilities should disable VHF
DATA mode in order to force data link via SATCOM only and frequency of VHF 3/C is suggested,
due to the high cost of VHF data transmission.
FIR MD11 B747-400 A330-200 B777-300ER
JAPAN/RJJJ AUTO TUNE SATCOM SATCOM SATCOM
CHINA AUTO TUNE SATCOM SATCOM SATCOM
RCAA 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
VHHK 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
RPHI 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
ZJSA 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
VVVV 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
VVTS 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
VLVT 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
VDPP 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
VTBB AUTO TUNE 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
VECF 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
WSJC 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
WIIF 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
WBFC 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
YBBB 131.550 131.550 SITA P/131.550 AUTO TUNE
Revert to VHF DATA mode when clear CHINA and JAPAN FIRs or other condition requires its
use.
NOTE: D-ATIS function of Japan airports will not be available under non VHF DATA mode.
7.15.5. Use of Company Radio
Company radio may be used on the ground or in flight when work load permits.

Miscellaneous PI-OB-018 Date: 01 Oct 2009

Page: 7-16 Revision: 05