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Help centre · For pilots

ACARS troubleshooting

Fixes for the problems pilots meet most often with Vaeroly ACARS: it doesn't see the simulator, it doesn't show your booking, Windows warns about it, or you need its logs.

ACARS doesn't see the simulator

  • Same rights for everything. Run ACARS, FSUIPC and the simulator all normally, or all as administrator. If one runs as administrator and the other doesn't, Windows keeps them apart.
  • Pick the simulator. Under SIMULATOR, choose yours instead of Detect automatically: MSFS 2020 / 2024 (SimConnect), MSFS / Prepar3D through FSUIPC or X-Plane 11 / 12 (direct).
  • MSFS: you don't need FSUIPC. Load into the aircraft at the gate first; ACARS keeps trying while the simulator is still loading.
  • Prepar3D: install FSUIPC for your Prepar3D version.
  • X-Plane: ACARS uses X-Plane's own network data on UDP port 49000. A firewall that blocks it stops ACARS seeing X-Plane.
  • X-Plane on another computer at home (ACARS 2.8.14 and later): both computers must be on the same network, and the firewall must let UDP through. ACARS then shows Connected to X-Plane on and the computer's name.

ACARS doesn't show my booking

  • Press Refresh under YOUR FLIGHT. A new booking also shows by itself within a minute.
  • One ACARS covers all your airlines. With bookings at several of them, ACARS 2.8.26 and later shows Your bookings: pick the flight you're about to fly. Older versions take the newest booking, so update.
  • A booking has to be started within 24 hours of booking (or of its scheduled departure, if that's later). An expired booking can't be started: book again.
  • If you pressed Sign out of every other browser and ACARS on your profile, or changed your password or email, ACARS asks you to sign in again.

See Booking a flight and finding it again.

Windows protected your PC

The first time you start VaerolyACARS.exe, Windows SmartScreen may show "Windows protected your PC". Click More info, then Run anyway. Download ACARS only from the ACARS page of the crew centre.

Mac

The Mac app runs on Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and newer); there's no download for Intel Macs. Drag VaerolyACARS to Applications and open it from there.

Downloads

Signed in, the download comes ready to use with your account. Without signing in, one address can download at most 10 times an hour; sign in if you hit that limit.

Updates and the beta version

When a new version is out, press Update now in the app; your sign-in and saved flights stay. On the Settings tab, Updates chooses which version you get: Stable (the normal version) or Beta (new features first, which may have rough edges). Going back from Beta to an older Stable version asks you first. The ACARS page lists what changed in each version.

Logs and error reports

  • Flight logs opens the folder with a text file for each flight: what the ACARS window showed, a position once a minute and the PIREP's result. The newest 30 flights are kept. Staff may ask you for one.
  • If ACARS stopped on an error, it offers to send the error report the next time it starts. Tick Send error reports to Vaeroly on the Settings tab to send them without asking. A report holds the error, the app version and your system, never names, emails, file paths or keys.

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