Robert,

Yes, yes and yes.

ACARS is used by airlines as a company-to-crew text messaging system.
Passenger manifests, gate information, maintainance messages...anything that
is of an internal nature between the company and the cockpit crew can be
passed from ground to crew or crew to ground. Most airlines with ACARS also
have small printers installed so the crew can print out the info for
reference or to hand to a flight attendant so she can read connecting gate
information to passengers. It is also standard practice to send weather
information, aircraft performance data prior to departure and in most cases,
receive the ATC IFR clearance from the FAA. This last one is called "PDC"
(Pre departure clearance) and is not available at all airports...mostly the
ones near where bureaucrats with a lot of political clout live. All airlines
do not own ACARS as it is an expensive system and the crews need to get
their clearances prior to departure by calling clearance delivery at the
departure airport or receive their weather and performance data from
dispatchers. By the way, this information is what you usually see the gate
agents handing to the pilots when they arrive at the gate to depart. If
you're late for departure and the captain makes a PA announcement about
"needing paperwork," he is probably referring to the weather and performance
data that will tell him the aircraft can lift off the ground at the ambient
temperature and its planned weight. ACARS can provide this immediately to
crews.

Vern Weiss, W9STB
Minocqua, WI
Airline Captain & SWL

Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Question on ACARS:

Curious about how Acars is actually utilized, and for what purposes.

Is this used only for company communications air to ground, and ground to
air communications,
such as in-flight maintenance problems, arrival times, etc., or does the
flight also use it to contact
the FAA for clearances, etc. ?

Thanks,
Bob