CPDLC, ACARS

[Daniel Macfarlane 1033470]

Yup, I know. But given that we can't do that, a standalone device would be more realistic even if it isn't commonly used in real life.

 

If it isn't used in real life, what would make it more realistic? Leaving it by itself or adding some weird, non - realistic design that you would never see in a plane?

 

 

My understanding is that standalone ACARS devices are used in some situations. In any case, a standalone device that could theoretically appear is more realistic(to me, at least), then using a boeing MCDU for ACARS in Airbus, or using separate MCDUs for the FMC and ACARs in a boeing.

 

Can you show me a example of a standalone device used for ACARs?

 

I do agree that if you are flying a airbus then you should be able to select a airbus MCDU skin. Or for a Boeing, leave as is.

[Kirk Christie]

 

Can you show me a example of a standalone device used for ACARs?

 

I do agree that if you are flying a airbus then you should be able to select a airbus MCDU skin. Or for a Boeing, leave as is.

 

 

Unless hes thinking of some 330's and 340's that have the 3rd MCDU, which is still the same as the other two, but primarily used for ACARS or Maintenance, and a back up if the other's go spare, either way its still a 3rd MCDU, and not a standalone ACARS unit.

 

But then again it is Darrol, who knows what hes thinking about.

[James White]

Some Airbusses don't have the latest MCDU software therefore needing a seperate ACARS/CPDLC console. Also some 757's/767's have it aswell in the pedestal. See pictures below. Although I don't know what Darrol is on about with a generic looking thing as they look completely different.

 

 

[Darrol Larrok 1140797]

I wasn't thinking of anything in particular. In a sense, it could be a completely fictional device and still be more realistic as it is theoretically possible. To put it another way, I'd rather bend the realism towards a generic device than an illogical one.

[David Zhong]

You do realise that you can in fact change the background image? It's on the website (somewhere ).

[John Golin]

OKAY!

 

 

AIRBUS FLAVOUR MCDU

 

Courtesy Worldflight Australia

 

Note this is a reskin of the default MCDU - I've tried to remap the buttons / graphics as best I can... if you want it different then fix it yourself!

 

Install Notes - Read the README.

 

[John Golin]

If we ask Hoppie really nicely, he may be able to make some small changes for newer, multicolour MCDUs...

 

From my research I discovered:

 

Airbus:

Title, Comments - White

Modifiable / Selectable Data - Cyan

Non Modifiable Acitve Data - Green

Mandatory Data (boxes) / Action / Input required, Important Mesages - Amber

 

Boeing:

No idea.

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers 8114]

The MCDU is already fully multicolour. However the ACARS software is not. This would be not very difficult to add, yet I don't currently see much added value in colourful displays

 

 

I'll put it on my list for the next release. Just as integrating your Airbus skin into the distro.

 

For those people that like a non-MCDU device: as long as you provide the backdrop photo or drawing and find a way to map the required operation keys to hot spots on the photo, you can basically tinker any panel together yourself. The MCDU is extremely versatile. It even contains a complete popup keyboard so you can make a full touch screen interface without button rectangles. All you need to know is here:

http://www.hoppie.nl/mcdu/extending.html

 

 

Concerning dedicated ACARS/CPDLC devices, there are a few, and their number is growing. They usually look like MCDUs, but especially for the bizz jets, there simply is no space to put in another MCDU, and integrating into existing equipment means recertification of the whole lot and is out of the question. So you see interesting form factors pop up.

 

 

 

 

Jeroen

[Jonas Eberle]

Those special devices look cute!

 

I just had a bulb next to my head signalling: why not use a mobile phone as airborne CPDLC device, programmed in Java or as a mini webpage...

 

btw: I was talking with Nils Hillmann and he takes it serious with the integration into EuroScope, taking pictures from EuroControl as an example. He is after some other EuroScope plugins, though, also so do not expect it soon

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers 8114]

After World Flight, I will be more than happy to [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ist in plugging CPDLC into whatever scope.

 

 

Jeroen

[Adrian Barnett 1037621]

After World Flight, I will be more than happy to [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ist in plugging CPDLC into whatever scope.

 

 

Jeroen

NOW THAT SOUNDS AWSOME!!!! ESP for OCEANIC ATC!!!

[Sam Schiphorst 1138912]

Nearly all of my software is in principle platform-independent although some fine tunings have been made for windows only due to the exclusive user base. If the X-plane interface gets done (no promises, I don't have X-plane, I don't have a Mac, I don't have a lot of time, etc.) then most likely the ACARS stuff will also run on a Mac.

 

 

Jeroen

 

 

Any more information on this mac client?

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers 8114]

With Worldflight coming up, this system will get cooking.

 

I've written up a brief overview on how Worldflight ATC and Dispatch usually treats ACARS, including PDC, and CPDLC. Also, there is an extensive support system to allow your own aircraft to be visible in the stream of traffic, using ADS-C.

 

Jeroen

 

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers 8114]

For whitelisted ACARS accounts, I've added a bridge from ACARS to Twitter. Selected flight deck crews and atcos can now tweet to the Worldflight time line. Selected aircraft taking off and arriving will tweet their OOOI data.

 

http://twitter.com/Worldflight

 

Of course, the #worldflight hash tag allows the whole world to chime in, but the "official stuff" comes from the whitelist only.

 

Less than a week.

 

 

Jeroen

[Sam Schiphorst 1138912]

Any news of a Mac Client?

[David Zhong]

Wrong thread, Sam

[Stephen Richey 985064]

Maybe I'm crazy, but couldn't we just use text?

 

My thoughts exactly. The only reason I use an ACARS is to track fuel burn, block-to-block times and takeoff and landing performances. I am using FSACARS which leaves a lot to be desired but unless someone has a suggestion for a better freeware option, I'm stuck with it for the foreseeable future.

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers 8114]

Of course you can just use text. However, I have not yet seen aircraft with that option. The real airplanes use more complex things to link up with ATC.

 

http://www.eurocontrol.int/link2000/public/subsite_homepage/homepage.html

[David Zhong]

Maybe I'm crazy, but couldn't we just use text?

 

PMDG could just read the flight sim internal lat/longs instead of implemented independent IRSs and Mr Csernak could have just displayed actual VATSIM position instead of displaying computer estimated position for aircraft outside of radar coverage.

 

We could, but this is flight sim; we have to do things the hard way

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers 8114]

A. I've seen impressive integration attempts of CPDLC into a radar client.

 

B. ACARS p[Mod - Happy Thoughts]ed 400 active users last week.

 

C. I'm still alive after Worldflight 2010.

 

 

 

Hoppie

[John Golin]

Another MCDU skin from Worldflight Australia... 737 greenscreen.

 

 

As with the previous Airbus version, read the enclosed Readme for installation instructions.

 

Click Me to download from WorldFlight Australia.

Edited November 14, 2010 at 09:31 PM by Guest

[John Golin]

... and if anyone has an equivelant (or larger) size pic of a 777 or NG MCDU could you post it here... tnx!

[Alan Kapakai 1166173]

Maybe I'm crazy, but couldn't we just use text?

 

Seems like for pre-departure clearances this could be a very feasible avenue. In fact, as much as they discourage private messages to controllers, in the real world that is essentially what is happening with PDC's. Typically they just read back the squak to ATC to verify that the PDC was received. Why not in vatsim have the FMC send a private chat to ATC for pre-departure and ATC send the read-back including squak in a private message and be done with it.

[Ben Lim]

I am glad to hear Hoppies platform is integrated on the Jeehell FMGS A320 (freeware!) cockpit builder avionics suite

 

http://www.dalpi.de/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=82

[Adrian Barnett 1037621]

After World Flight, I will be more than happy to [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ist in plugging CPDLC into whatever scope.

 

 

Jeroen

NOW THAT SOUNDS AWSOME!!!! ESP for OCEANIC ATC!!!

 

Jeroen,

A little curious as to what became of this?

I really like using CPDLC, been using it for years now! But when I'm working a congested freq and trying to work CPLDC outside of the scope, it gets overwhelming sometimes. During yesterdays Cross The Pond event, I ended up shutting down the software because it was too much to handle, having to click out of the scope, and back.

Having it integrated into Euroscope (which is what I use to control KZWY- NY Oceanic as it can simulate non-radar, but can give you a solid visual of where planes are), would more than likely to make it a lot easier, and a little less work load.

 

Thanks for all the hard work being put into the MSFS ACARS/CPDLC systems.