{"id":18808,"date":"2022-06-22T09:30:35","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T13:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/?p=18808"},"modified":"2022-06-23T08:51:43","modified_gmt":"2022-06-23T12:51:43","slug":"acars-oceanic-clearances-on-the-nat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/acars-oceanic-clearances-on-the-nat\/","title":{"rendered":"ACARS Oceanic Clearances on the NAT"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is a revised NAT OPS Bulletin that was issued June 14. Bulletin 2020_001<\/a> is all about ACARS Data Link Oceanic Clearances.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It puts all the procedures for CZQX\/Gander, BIRD\/Reykjavik, ENOB\/Bod\u00f8, EGGX\/Shanwick and LPPO\/Santa Maria<\/strong> into one spot, instead of having them spread between all the different individual ANSP NAT OPS Bulletins.<\/p>\n

When we compared the old version of the Bulletin with this new one there aren’t really any big differences at all. Essentially none, in fact. But since we recently confused ourselves a lot over all things ACARS related, here is a refresher summary of what it says…<\/p>\n

Have a read of the intro first<\/h4>\n

Point 2.2 of the introduction says this:<\/p>\n

“The ACARS Data link\u00a0oceanic\u00a0clearance service is provided by means of VHF and satellite to ACARS equipped aircraft via\u00a0communications service providers ARINC and SITA.\u00a0<\/i>It should not be\u00a0confused\u00a0<\/i>with FANS 1\/A CPDLC.”<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

(I totally confused these earlier, despite having used both.)<\/p>\n

“Operators intending to\u00a0participate in the ACARS data link process are\u00a0required to contact their communications service provider and indicate\u00a0they would like to receive the service.”<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

So that means the likes of ARINC and SITA.<\/p>\n

The Procedures (in short)<\/h4>\n

1. Put the ACARS logon<\/strong> in, along with your flight number and the OCA facility.<\/p>\n

2. Make sure you request your clearance at the right time<\/strong> (not too early, not too late). Here is the current table of timings:<\/p>\n

\"\"

Not too soon, not too late, or rule of thumb…<\/p><\/div>\n

(This is the only change we spotted from the old one – Gander used to say 90-30 minutes, now it says 90-60 minutes.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

3. Make sure your RCL has all the right stuff<\/strong> in it:<\/p>\n