ARINC SPECIFICATION 618-8-2016 PDF

Full title and description

St ARINC SPECIFICATION 618-8-2016 — Air/Ground Character-Oriented Protocol Specification. This ARINC characteristic defines the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) air/ground character‑oriented protocol: message and block formats, addressing, acknowledgements, sequencing and retransmission behavior, timing budgets for VDL/satellite links, and related operational guidance for integration of aircraft and ground datalink systems.

Abstract

ARINC 618-8 (2016) compiles and standardizes the character‑oriented air/ground protocol used for ACARS datalink communications. It brings together previously separate ARINC characteristics into a single, harmonized specification describing ACARS message and block structure, message handling protocols (acknowledgements, sequencing and retransmission), addressing and addressing formats, timeliness and timing budgets for VHF/VDL and satellite categories, and installation/test guidance for airborne and ground equipment.

General information

• Status: Superseded (replaced by ARINC 618-9:2023)
• Publication date: August 10, 2016
• Publisher: Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC) / ARINC industry activities
• ICS / categories: 49.090 (On‑board equipment and instruments); related telecommunications and information technology categories
• Edition / version: ARINC Specification 618-8 (Edition 8, 2016)
• Number of pages: 333 pages (approx.)

Scope

Defines the operational and protocol-level requirements for ACARS air/ground character‑oriented communications. Covers air/ground block formats (uplink and downlink), message protocol (basic message handling, acknowledgements, sequencing and retransmissions), addressing and message routing, multi‑block processing, timing requirements and budgets for VHF/VDL and satellite links, appendices with installation/test guidance and protocol history, and normative references to related ARINC and international communications standards.

Key topics and requirements

• ACARS system description and component roles (aircraft MU, ground systems, communications management units).
• Air/ground block structure: detailed formats for downlink and uplink blocks and control fields.
• Message protocol: message framing, basic message procedures, acknowledgements and retry behavior.
• Addressing and routing: message addressing formats, addressing conventions and destination identification.
• Sequencing and retransmission: message sequencing rules, multi‑block message handling, retransmission algorithms and limits.
• Timing and performance: timing budgets for VDL/VDL Mode 2, satellite categories and AOA timing diagrams.
• Interoperability guidance: relationships to prior ARINC characteristics (e.g., 724/B series) and to relevant international link and frame standards.
• Installation and test guidance: recommended procedures and checklists for airborne installation verification and conformance tests.

Typical use and users

Used by avionics manufacturers, communications‑management unit (CMU) designers, satellite and VHF data link equipment vendors, airline engineering and operations teams, ground system integrators, certification and test laboratories, and system architects designing ACARS and other air/ground datalink services. Also referenced by systems integrators implementing message handling, addressing and retransmission behavior for airline command, control and management systems.

Related standards

Closely related to other ARINC characteristics and international link/frame standards, including earlier ARINC 724/724B, ARINC 597, ARINC 566 series, ARINC 750, and references to HDLC/X.25 and relevant ISO/IEC framing standards. The ARINC 618 series continues to evolve — ARINC 618-9 (2023) is the subsequent edition that supersedes the 618-8 (2016) text.

Keywords

ACARS, air/ground protocol, character-oriented protocol, VHF data link (VDL), satellite datalink, message framing, acknowledgements, retransmission, sequencing, CMU, ARINC 618, datalink timing, installation test guidance.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ARINC 618-8:2016 is the ARINC specification that defines the air/ground character‑oriented protocol used by ACARS — specifying block and message formats, protocol procedures and operational guidance for aircraft-to-ground and ground-to-air character‑oriented datalink communications.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers ACARS system description, uplink/downlink block formats, message protocol rules (including acknowledgements, sequencing and retransmissions), addressing and routing, timing budgets for VDL and satellite links, installation and test guidance, and appendices documenting protocol history and related details.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Avionics and CMU vendors, airline engineering and operations teams, ground system integrators, satellite/VHF equipment manufacturers, certification/test labs and anyone implementing or validating ACARS air/ground communications.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ARINC 618-8 (2016) has been superseded by ARINC 618-9 (2023). Organizations implementing or certifying new equipment should refer to the latest ARINC 618 edition for current normative requirements.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. ARINC 618 is a series of characteristics for the air/ground character‑oriented protocol; subsequent numbered releases (e.g., 618-9:2023) update and replace prior editions.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: ACARS, air/ground, character‑oriented protocol, VDL, satellite datalink, message framing, acknowledgements, retransmission, sequencing, CMU, ARINC 618.