What should you do if ACARS is not functioning?

• A. Monitor ARINC
• B. Ignore ARINC
• C. Power down avionics
• D. Contact dispatch only

Answer: (A)

ACARS runs over the ARINC data-link network, so the first step when ACARS isn’t working is to check the ARINC status and monitor what ARINC is doing. By watching ARINC, you gain visibility into whether the entire data-link is having issues or if the problem is isolated to the ACARS software path. This helps you decide how to proceed, such as using alternative communications per SOP and keeping dispatch informed, rather than guessing or waiting without insight. Ignoring ARINC would leave you without crucial status information, powering down avionics is not a typical or safe remedial action, and merely contacting dispatch without assessing the data-link status misses the real cause and slows your response.