Data Comm Overview
The FAA's NextGen Data Comm program allows the National Airspace System (NAS) to handle more traffic, reduce flight delays, route aircraft more efficiently and improve safety, all while reducing operational costs for airspace users. In today's NAS, air traffic management depends on voice communications to relay a wide array of critical information between air crews and controllers. As a trusted partner with the FAA, L3Harris is lending its expertise to enhance safety and improve efficiency in the nation's airspace.
Air-to-Ground Data Communication: Making Air Traffic Control Modernization Possible
Data Comm improves aviation safety by reducing errors common in voice communications such as readback/hearback errors, control instructions intended for one aircraft taken by another and transposed call signs. It increases airport efficiencies by providing revised departure clearances at busy hub airports, and it makes airspace safer and flight more efficient through capabilities such as trajectory-based operations, continuous descent approaches and dynamic weather reroutes.
US Domestic En Route CPDLC
U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC Avionics
Operators are requested to check their aircraft configurations against the documents below to participate in U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC.
For aircraft configurations not listed, operators are requested to temporarily stop filing as eligible for En Route CPDLC, contact their equipment manufacturer to work with the FAA and L3Harris, and evaluate operational performance of their aircraft configuration.
- Recommended and Required Avionics Version List v1.72 20230118 (En Route)
- U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC Avionics Trial v3.12 20221214
- Verification of Avionics Configurations Guide: U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC
- U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC Site Activation Map (updated 03/28/2023)
U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC Guides
- En Route Quick Reference Guide
- U.S. Domestic CPDLC Flight and Route Planning Guide
- En Route CPDLC Logon Guidance
- Data Comm En Route CPDLC Operator Check List
- Pilot Handbook - U.S. Domestic En Route Controller Pilot Datalink Communication (updated 04/20/2023)
- Automated Blocked List Overview
En Route Demonstration Videos
- Demonstration of US Domestic En Route CPDLC for Business Aviation
- Demonstration of US Domestic En Route CPDLC for Commercial Aviation
Technical Documents
- NAS Data Communications Guide v13.0 (updated 02/22/2023)
- CPDLC End2End Description v2.1 (updated 02/22/2023)
- FAA AC 90-117 Data Link Communications Document
- FAA Flight Operations Group for Data Communications (AFS-410)
OPR Form
Please use this form for reporting an issue with CPDLC DCL or En Route
General and Business Aviation US Domestic En Route CPDLC
NOTICE:
U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC is currently allowing the return of certain business and general aviation aircraft whose avionics configurations meet those listed in the ‘U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC Avionics Trial’ document. Please use the ‘Verification of Avionics Configurations’ in conjunction with the ‘U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC Avionics Trial’ document listed under Data Comm Resources. These document(s) contain language regarding the current status of business and general aviation in En Route CPDLC, how to check your aircraft for eligibility and how to apply to have your aircraft added to the ‘Return to Service’ list for En Route CPDLC if you meet the eligibility requirements.
Gulfstream operators can reference more information at their OEM’s website which is located here: https://mygulfstream.com/wps/myportal/mygulfstream/technology/avionics-technologies/usa-domestic-datalink
For aircraft configurations not listed, operators are requested to temporarily stop filing as eligible for En Route CPDLC, and contact their equipment manufacturer to work with the FAA and L3Harris to evaluate operational performance of their aircraft configuration (this activity has already begun with major business aviation manufacturers). Aircraft configurations that can demonstrate consistent operational performance will be added to the Data Comm Recommended Avionics Versions document to resume En Route operations. Operators may continue to file for DCL (FANS or FANSP DAT Code) service only with the appropriate flight plan filing DAT code
This is supported by the following NOTAM:
!FDC 0/0820 FDC ..SPECIAL NOTICE.. GA AND BUSINESS AVIATION ACFT ARE PROHIBITED FM USING EN ROUTE CPDLC EXC APPROVED TRIAL PARTICIPANTS. CPDLC DEP CLR OPS ARE STILL PERMITTED. ALL GA AND BUSINESS ACFT, EXC TRIAL PARTICIPANTS, MUST MODIFY FLT PLAN FIELD 18 DATA CODE TO REMOVE EN ROUTE CPDLC IMMEDIATELY. FURTHER INFO CTC DCIT@L3HARRIS.COM 2010010000-2109302359
US CPDLC DCL (Departure Clearance)
Controller Pilot Data Link Communications Departure Clearances help reduce delays and improve safety at 65 airports across the NAS
DCIT Meetings
The DCIT is the Data Comm Implementation Team, a working group of operators, OEMS, industry partners, the FAA and L3Harris that drive the purpose and expectations of the Data Comm program.
