# ACARS Drama

> ACARS Drama is a project that showcases the behind-the-scenes efforts of commercial aviation by publishing interesting, human-written ACARS and VDLM2 radio messages captured from passing aircraft by a global volunteer network of enthusiasts using cheap SDR hardware and open-source software. All messages are stripped of identifying information (flight number, registration, PII, PNRs, medical/security details) and delayed ~5 minutes for safety. Public feeds are free; a paid Jumpseat membership ($7.99/month) adds search, stats, aircraft lookup, and REST API access.

The project processes roughly 250,000 messages per hour and posts only the small fraction containing human-entered free-text (typed by a pilot or crew member into a Flight Management Computer). Its ethos: "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" — nerd out sensibly, without embarrassing anyone. Feeds are published on Mastodon and Bluesky.

## Main links

- [Mastodon (@acarsdrama)](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@acarsdrama): Main live feed and Mastodon instance.
- [Bluesky (@acarsdrama)](https://bsky.app/profile/acarsdrama.bsky.social): Main feed on Bluesky.
- [Discord — "ACARS Drama Club"](https://discord.gg/8MPufpn2qh): Community chat and feeder support.
- [GitHub](https://github.com/acarsdrama): Sample configs and project code.
- [Jumpseat membership](https://jumpseat.acarsdrama.com): Paid tier ($7.99/mo) — message search, station stats, aircraft lookup, archive sweeps, ACARS insights, and REST API access.

## Filtered / accessibility feeds (Mastodon)

- [@trending](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@trending): Messages that get boosted/favorited a lot.
- [@top_shelf](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@top_shelf): Stricter keyword set.
- [@emergencies_failures](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@emergencies_failures): Broken things, system failures, and emergencies.
- [@medical](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@medical): Medical events.
- [@excreta](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@excreta): Bodily-fluid-related messages.
- [@badpax](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@badpax): Difficult passengers.
- [@wtf](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@wtf): Things that make you ask WTF.
- [@animals](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@animals): Animal-related drama.
- [@wx](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@wx): Weather-related happenings and diversions.
- [@ride_reports](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@ride_reports): Turbulence/bumpiness ratings.
- [@crewing_ops](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@crewing_ops): Operational side of aviation.
- [Mastodon accessibility feed (@acarsdrama_a11y)](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@acarsdrama_a11y): Screen-reader-friendly mirror.
- [Bluesky accessibility feed](https://bsky.app/profile/acarsdrama-a11y.bsky.social): Screen-reader-friendly mirror on Bluesky.

## RSS

- [Main RSS](https://live.acarsdrama.com/@acarsdrama.rss): RSS for the main feed (per-topic RSS also exists — e.g. @trending.rss, @wx.rss, @medical.rss, matching the Mastodon topics above).

## Contribute (feeders / "Sky Drama Farmers")

- [Deep dive: acarsdec / dumpvdlm2 / acars_router](https://mike-sheward.medium.com/slack-messages-from-the-skies-9ea8ea9366f0): Guide to setting up a feeder.
- [ADSB.im step-by-step guide](https://mike-sheward.medium.com/feed-acars-drama-with-adsb-im-a-step-by-step-guide-a78983f6ed18): Preconfigured-image feeder setup.
- [Sample docker-compose.yml](https://github.com/acarsdrama/sample-config/blob/main/docker-compose.yaml): Example feeder configuration.
- Feed ACARS to feedthe.acarsdrama.com:5550 and VDLM2 to feedthe.acarsdrama.com:5555 (UDP preferred, JSON). Set a unique FEED ID including your nearest airport ICAO, then email feeders [at] acarsdrama [dot] com. Sky Drama Farmers get complimentary Jumpseat membership.