Hoppie ACARS

The Hoppie ACARS system is a complex system and we have decided to develop and release it step-by-step.

Hoppie System

The Hoppie system is developed by Jeroen "Hoppie" Hoppenbrouwers which provides text-based communication between aircraft, virtual airlines and virtual ATC stations. It provides multiple communication protocols to communicate between different stations. The system is used by controllers on VATSIM and IVAO.

Hoppie Homepage

The A32NX implements the TELEX and CPDLC communication between ATC stations and the aircraft.

It allows communication between ATC stations and the aircraft without the use of voice, but it is still required that the pilot monitors the voice frequency.

CPDLC is used to send requests to the ATC station or from the ATC station requesting flight information or issuing instructions to the pilot.

Additionally PDC (Pre-Departure Clearance, also DCL) is used to request an IFR-clearance from ATC via text.

The A32NX MCDU and DCDU provide the interface for communication to and from the Hoppie system to communicate with the ATC stations.

Create a logon code

Every pilot needs a unique logon code that is used to identify the communication. This code needs to be requested on the website of Hoppie: Logon request

The resulting code needs to be stored and hidden from other users.

It is suggested to define if the logon code is used on VATSIM or IVAO. The default configuration assumes a connection to the VATSIM network. The configuration can be set here

The logon code will be deleted after three months without any logon. A single logon renews the lifetime of the code.

Configuration of the A32NX

It is required to configure the A32NX to use the Hoppie system. All configuration entries are set in the Settings-pages of the EFB.

ATSU/AOC

The Hoppie logon code needs to be set in the EFB Settings ATSU/AOC page.

The logon code needs to be set in "Hoppie User ID".

Turning on Hoppie ACARS

Once the above toggle is set appropriately, the Hoppie ACARS system will log you in automatically provided the following items are complete:

• Logon code is entered.
• A flight number is set.
• The weather source is set to VATSIM or IVAO.
  • See EFB Settings ATSU/AOC.

Example flight

This chapter shows an example how a normal flight on VATSIM is handled with PDC and CPDLC.

The CPDLC system is only a convenience to relax the voice frequency. Time critical instructions will be given via voice.

Departure Clearance

After preparation of the aircraft an IFR clearance is required which can be requested via DCL (Departure Clearance).

The DEPART REQ page requires the current ATC station code and the current ATIS. Providing a gate and freetext is optional.

The ATC FLT NBR and FROM/TO is taken from the INIT A page. So it is important that the INIT A page is set up before requesting the IFR clearance.

Freetext can and should be used to provide additional information to the controller. E.g. the inability for specific SIDs or the request of a dedicated SID.

Press REQ DISPL to transfer the request to the DCDU.

You can then check the message in the DCDU and send it by pressing the button next to SEND*

The controller sends the clearance with all relevant information. This information includes usually the departure runway, the SID, the assigned squawk code and a startup time.

It is required to confirm or deny a clearance. A denied clearance requires a voice communication with the delivery controller.

Enroute CPDLC

Usually it is only possible to use CPDLC on ATC CTR (Center or Radar stations) or for clearance (DEL) stations.

It is not provided on ground (TWR, GND), approach (APP) or departure (DEP) stations. Due to the long delays in the communication via CPDLC this type of communication would be too slow for these stations.

Station Handover / Notification

If the responsible ATC sector provides CPDLC a Notification is required. This Notification requests a logon at the defined ATC station.

A logon can fail due to several reasons. One is that the controller does not provide CPDLC and the request times out after five minutes. An other reason can be that the request is rejected by ATC. A failed notification is indicated via a "NOTIF FAILED"

To understand the reason for the failed notification check the the message record.

After a successful logon a "CURRENT ATC" message is shown on the DCDU which indicates the responsible ATC station.

Enroute Instructions from Controller to Pilot

The ATC controller can send instructions to the pilot at any time. Most of the instructions or requests require an answer from the pilot via the buttons on the DCDU.

Find some examples below.

Climb Instruction

Possible responses usually are WILCO ("will comply"), STDBY ("standby") or UNABLE ("unable to comply").

If you select STBY the message will be marked with STDBY and you can respond with WILCO or UNABLE after we have checked our ability to comply.

Frequency Change

A frequency change can be given via CPDLC. This message contains the next station and the frequency. It is required to set the frequency in the radio and to confirm the message.

If the next ATC station provides CPDLC we can notify this next station which would log us off the current station when accepted. See Station Handover / Notification.

Logoff From Station

You can logoff from the current station if the next station does not provide CPDLC.

Oceanic clearance

It is also possible to request an Oceanic Clearance (OCL) from ATC.

The OCEANIC REQ page requires you to be on the last station before an oceanic route. You need to enter your planned entry point, time at entry point, speed and flight level.

In the example below this would be station EGGX (Shanwick Oceanic FIR) and the entry point would be ETIKI for NAT D.

You would ask for the oceanic clearance about 30min before reaching the entry point.

Fifteen (15) minutes after passing the entry point you need to set your squawk to 2000. You will receive a new squawk when entering a domestic sector again.

ATIS Auto Update

To receive ATIS information and setup auto update of specific ATIS go to the ATC COMM menu and click on ATIS.

The source for your ATIS information can be configured in the EFB Settings page: EFB ATSU-AOC Options

From the ATIS Menu page you can request ATIS information directly by pushing the right side LSK next to REQ SEND*. You also can CLR, change and add additional airports (example formats see screenshots).

You can chose to automatically update ATIS information by pressing the LSK R4 AUTO UPDATEand then configure the auto updates on the next page.

Pressing the LSK R6 allows you to automatically print ATIS information to the printer.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes the ATC station does not respond to PDC or CPDLC messages. This mostly happens because of ATC controllers not responding, an issue in the Hoppie network or potentially an issue with the A32NX.

This chapter will give you some hints to check what the actual cause of the issue is.

Find online stations

It is possible to find all currently online stations. This is helpful to check if the responsible ATC station provides CPDLC or PDC. A complete list can be found here.

Find sent and received messages

It can be helpful to check if messages are sent to the Hoppie network. The Hoppie website shows all sent and received messages to and from a specific call sign.

The link follows the the following syntax:

http://www.hoppie.nl/acars/system/callsign.html?network=<NETWORK>&callsign=<CALLSIGN>

Example: http://www.hoppie.nl/acars/system/callsign.html?network=VATSIM&callsign=FBW291

• <NETWORK>: Needs to be set as IVAO or VATSIM, depending on the used network.
• <CALLSIGN>: Is the used callsign of the A32NX in the Hoppie network. It is the same as the callsign on the init-page of the MCDU.