ACARS etiquette and you

[Nkdx]

Just curious, how formal are you guys when sending ACARS to pilots? Obviously, you shoot the sh** with pilots you know but what about those you don’t.

 

[Hondo Calrissian]

I just don't use words that a sailor would say or shouldn't say in church over ACARS...

 

[SoftSkills]

For folks I'm not familiar with? I keep it formal and my language is such that I wouldn't have any issues if a lawyer was reading it later.

 

[z987k]

For folks I'm not familiar with? I keep it formal and my language is such that I wouldn't have any issues if a lawyer was reading it later.

Use nothing but acronyms so that you can always argue later it means 100 different things.

 

[manniax]

This goes for ACARS messages as well.

 

[who'swho]

I keep it professional, I don't believe ACARS should be used as a tool for flirting. And I like to use words like "recommend" and "approximately". They convey the point but just vague enough for a lawyer to argue about their meaning.

 

[Spatchman]

I like to use words like "recommend" and "approximately". They convey the point but just vague enough for a lawyer to argue about their meaning.

THIS!

I've had the unfortunate experience of being called into the office for "banter" and will not make that mistake again.

...

With decision making, I also try to be vague. I tend to say the storms "look" like they're dissipating. Or "probably" or "might" or "maybe"

Certainty can be seen as a reason to be held liable in any bad situation.


Fun thread!

 

[Hondo Calrissian]

I don't believe ACARS should be used as a tool for flirting.

Please tell me that someone got caught flirting over ACARS?

I mean who in their right mind would use ACARS for that?

 

[paincorp]

I just need the emoji upgrade to be installed. Mood and tone gets lost in text, and emojis help that so much!

Kidding, obviously.


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[Mindsage25]

Like all others have mentioned, i will only write something I wouldn’t mind anyone else reading, especially for decision making. If it’s something about the everyday delays and wheels up times, non operational talk, usually a few jokes make it in but the pilot typically starts it.

 

[Adler]

 

[who'swho]

Please tell me that someone got caught flirting over ACARS?

I mean who in their right mind would use ACARS for that?

The most extreme example I saw of it was when said dispatcher pulled a flight off someone else's desk, while the flight was enroute, without telling the dispatcher whose desk it was on. If I recall correctly the dispatcher had been in the middle of discussing weather at the destination with the PIC or something else that was flight safety specific. That was a fun get your popcorn situation when the dispatcher blew up at her.

 

[Screaming_Emu]

Maybe it’s my personality, but I have a hard time not sounding sarcastic over ACARS so I tend to add more pleasantries.

 

[poser765]

Please tell me that someone got caught flirting over ACARS?

I mean who in their right mind would use ACARS for that?

Well, one long, late flight I struck up a conversation with the dx. We talked about food we like, made plans to get a burrito next time I was near the death star and just generally shot the breeze. At the time I thought it was a board captain and bored dispatcher killing time on a slow night. In hindsight there may have been some flirting coming from him.

 

[derg]

I keep my messages to dispatch bland. Without the ability to use exclamation points, question marks or other common punctuation, I can sound like a • with catlike quickness.

 

[A1TAPE]

In terms of sarcasm would addding /s at the end help imply sarcasm? Also referring to @Spatchmans post what "banter" was considered to required being called into the office over?

 

[Altimeter]

The most extreme example I saw of it was when said dispatcher pulled a flight off someone else's desk, while the flight was enroute, without telling the dispatcher whose desk it was on. If I recall correctly the dispatcher had been in the middle of discussing weather at the destination with the PIC or something else that was flight safety specific. That was a fun get your popcorn situation when the dispatcher blew up at her.

I can guess who that was.

 

[Plata]

Don’t forget that jumpseaters can read ACARS messages.

 

[paincorp]

In terms of sarcasm would addding /s at the end help imply sarcasm? Also referring to @Spatchmans post what "banter" was considered to required being called into the office over?

I’ve had captains write out “laughing face emoji” “thumbs up emoji” “poop emoji”.

That always helped realize it was sarcasm.


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[Mainline_or_bust]

Non sterile cockpit means that I’m going to be cracking jokes here and there. If you’ve done your job, enroute at FL350 and send probably any message a lawyer isn’t going to be reading it and if by a small margin they do you won’t have to defend a message you sent. Know the situation, do your job first and make some jokes once in a while.