ACARS

A: Last minute changes are accommodated either by the station refiguring the calculation on the computer program and sending it to the flight via a special data radio known as ACARS, or if the pilot are making the calculation manually, there is a section specifically for last-minute weight added or subtracted.

USATODAY.com News 2011

A data link interface between an aircraft Flight Management System (FMS) and the Management Unit for the Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), was developed during the early 1990s.

06 « November « 2008 « Niqnaq 2008

A data link interface between an aircraft Flight Management System (FMS) and the Management Unit for the Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), was developed during the early 1990s.

flight of the bumble planes, revisited 2008

The messages resulted from equipment failure data, captured by a built-in system for testing and reporting, and cockpit warnings also posted to ACARS.

What are they hiding? Flight 447 and Tunguska Type Events 2009

The messages, sent from an onboard maintenance system, Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), indicated that between 02: 10 UTC and 02: 14 UTC - four minutes or less - 5 failure reports and 19 warnings were transmitted.

What are they hiding? Flight 447 and Tunguska Type Events 2009

Among the ACARS transmissions in the first minute is one message that indicates a fault in the pitot-static system.

What are they hiding? Flight 447 and Tunguska Type Events 2009

Johnson sends an ACARS back to United: “How about YHM?” he types, using the airport identifier for Hamilton.

Touching History Lynn Spencer 2008

The final weight and balance calculations from dispatch came over the ACARS at 8:05, and with that in hand, the crew was ready to fly.

Touching History Lynn Spencer 2008

The ACARS messages continue to come in, becoming increasingly shocking.

Touching History Lynn Spencer 2008

But when he enters the flight deck, his relief first officer simply passes him a handful of ACARS messages.

Touching History Lynn Spencer 2008