ACARS Receiver
Aircraft text messages
What it does
SimpleAirplanes and their airline offices send each other short typed notes over the radio — things like 'we've left the gate', 'we need fuel', or an update on the weather ahead. It's a bit like the plane texting home.
This app can read some of those notes out of the air, showing which plane sent them and what they say. Paired with the ADS-B app, you can watch a plane on your list *and* read its messages.
How it works
SimpleThe plane's note is turned into a smooth radio tone that shifts in a special way to carry letters and numbers. The app un-shifts it back into text and shows the plane's tail number and the message. Different 'labels' tell you what kind of note it is, like a subject line on an email.
How to use it, step by step
Simple- Open the 'ACARS' app.
- Tune near 131.5 MHz.
- Wait for a plane message to pop up.
- Read the short note and the plane's tail number.
Examples
See operational messages tied to the same aircraft you're also watching on ADS-B.
Catch 'Out/Off/On/In' gate-and-runway timing messages that airlines use to track flights.
Note the different message labels and learn which ones mean position, free text, or requests.
Tips & things to try
- ACARS is AM/MSK on VHF airband — a plain vertical antenna near an airport works well.
- Traffic is heavier near busy airports and during the day.
- Match the registration to ADS-B to identify exactly which aircraft is 'texting'.