ACTIVATING ACARS SYSTEM:

Please be advised, that when you launch the IYP application for the first time, ACARS is NOT ACTIVATED. Please say, "Bring up the ACARS window." To ACTIVATE ACARS, simply say, "Activate ACARS system." Your trusty Co-Pilot will respond with, "The ACARS system has been activated."

The ACARS window will change from what is displayed on the LEFT to what is displayed on the RIGHT (above).

LOGGING ACARS DATA:

If the ACARS is ACTIVE when you launch the IYP application, and if you have loaded a PRE-SAVED FLIGHT with defined Origination and Destination airports, then Michelle (Mike) will say, "Since ACARS is active, you may wish to start ACARS logging." If you decide to do so, then simply say, "Start ACARS logging." Alternatively, you can say, "Bring up the ACARS window", and then click on the Start ACARS Logging button. (see image below)

VERY IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. LOADING PRE-SAVED FLIGHTS
   If Michelle says, "Sorry, you must save this flight under a suitable flight name before you can start ACARS", this means that the flight has likely been loaded as a, ’PREVIOUS FLIGHT’.

         Please follow these steps if you are using FS9:

   Bring up your simulator.
   Click on CREATE A FLIGHT.
   Click on Select aircraft.
   Choose your desired aircraft.
   Click on Selected location.
   Set the Departure ICAO (e.g., TNCA) and use the gate of your choice.
   Click on Selected weather.
   Choose whatever you desire.
   Set your Time and Season as desired.
   Click on Flight Planner. (departure is already set to TNCA as per above)
   Click on Choose Destination.
   Set the Destination (e.g., SVJC).
   Select IFR.
   Select Low altitude airways.
   Click on Find Route.
   Leave the Cruising altitude set to pre-selected default altitude of 6000 feet.
   Click OK.
   It will ask you to save a file called: IFR Oranjestad Reina Beatrix Intl to Josefa Camejo Intl.PLN
   Click OK.
   It will ask if you want to be moved to the departure airport.
   Click Yes.
   Click FLY NOW.
   Wait for the flight to load.
   Click on Flights >>> Save Flight. (at the top left of the simulator window)
   Save the Flight as (e.g.) TNCA-SVJC Test
   Click on Flights >>> Select a Flight. (at the top left of the simulator window)
   Load the flight named: TNCA-SVJC Test
   Minimise your simulator.
   Run It’s Your Plane.
   Restore your simulator.
   
   
   Say, "Start ACARS logging", unless you have the ACARS set to start automatically (see note below).
   
   NOTE:
   ACARS Logging will Start Automatically if you have the Auto ACARS feature selected on the IYP Control Panel.
   
   

2. REQUISITE INFORMATION
   All of the requisite data must be present before ACARS logging will start. Namely:
   Airline - Will display It's Your Plane - PRIVATE unless flying with a Virtual Airline (more later)
   IATA - Will display IYP unless flying with a Virtual Airline
   Registration - Actual Tail (Registration) Number of the aircraft being flown
   Select Call - A 4-character Selective Calling Code that is randomly generated by the IYP application
   Call Sign - Is derived from the Flight Number of the aircraft being flown
   Pilot # - The IYP User's Number, unless the pilot is flying with a Virtual Airline (more later)
   Dept ICAO - The departure airport ICAO pulled from the Flight Plan
   Dest ICAO - The destination airport ICAO pulled from the Flight Plan
   Altitude - The planned Flight Level pulled from the Flight Plan
   Aircraft - An IYP formulated 4-character code for the aircraft being flown
   Route - pulled from the Flight Plan (unless it's a very short flight with no waypoints)
   

Here's what your ACARS window should look like if you are flying as a pilot associated with the Virtual Airline (VA) Air Canadian.

You'll note that the Pilot # is NOT the users IYP Number. Rather, it is their actual Pilot # assigned to them by the VA; in this case, Air Canadian.   You can read a lot more about Virtual Airlines by clicking HERE.

You'll also note that in the image above, the user has entered 8 in the PAX (Passengers) field. This will be recorded in the ACARS data file, but is OPTIONAL and not required for the proper operation of the PIREP system.

SAVING ACARS DATA:

If you have STARTED ACARS LOGGING for a given flight, then upon arrival at the destination airport, the IYP application will ask you if you would like to SAVE your ACARS data. Assuming that you do so, your data is saved in the folder:

[SIMULATOR ROOT FOLDER]\IYPLosg\ACARS\

YYYYMMDDhhmmss.TXT

(e.g., C:\Program FIles\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\IYPLogs\ACARS\20071214083202.TXT)

If you have SAVED your ACARS data per above, IYP will then ask you if you would like to UPLOAD your ACARS to the IYP servers. If you say, "Yes please", or "Affirmative", then the IYP application will send your ACARS data to our servers in order to create a Pilot's Report (PIREP) that can been seen by fellow pilots on our site. You can see filed PIREPs by clicking HERE.