US Domestic Enroute Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) Avionics Trial
Purpose: To ensure avionics compatibility before filing the required flight plan codes to receive US Domestic En Route Data Link Services (Controller Pilot Data Link Communications/CPDLC).
Background: This Domestic Notice serves to clarify and augment the existing FDC NOTAM that states the following:
FDC 1/3379 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 -AT- L3HARRIS.COM 2109271400-2209262359
Initial implementation of US domestic En route CPDLC operations demonstrated that certain avionics versions or configurations have a lower than expected transmission success rate. As a result, the FAA's Air Traffic Organization (ATO) has decided to temporarily exclude certain aircraft from participating in US Domestic En Route CPDLC services until necessary validation and/or corrective actions are accomplished.
Discussion: The FAA is working with L3Harris Technologies, Communications Service Providers (CSP) and the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to identify, test, and resolve avionics compatibility issues that prevent the system from attaining the desired performance.
Aircraft/avionics systems that have been validated and proven to meet performance have been published in a list maintained by L3Harris Technologies.
Action: Operators that desire to participate in US domestic En route CPDLC must ensure their aircraft systems are compatible before filing the required flight plan codes to receive US domestic En route CPDLC services. Operators should first refer to the Recommended Avionics Version-En Route (RAV-E) list published by L3Harris Technologies, which may be obtained by going to the following web site: L3Harris.com/DataComm
Operators with general/business aviation aircraft types not referenced in the RAV-E may be considered for participation in En route CPDLC on a trial basis and should refer to the documents titled U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC Avionics Trial and Verification of Avionics Configurations: U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC (located at L3Harris.com/DataComm). Once verifying aircraft system compatibility to participate in the trial, operators are instructed to submit the U.S. Domestic En Route Eligibility form located within the U.S. Domestic En Route CPDLC Avionics Trial document. The form should be submitted to L3Harris Technologies at the email address specified in the above referenced FDC NOTAM (DCIT@L3Harris.com). Verification will be confirmed for compatibility and the operator will be notified of suitability to participate in US domestic En route CPDLC.
Note: This has no impact on Tower Data Link Services (TDLS)/Departure Clearance (DCL) and is strictly for US domestic En route CPDLC operations.
Contact: If you have questions or comments regarding this notice, contact your local CMO/FSDO or you may contact the following specialists at the FAA's Flight Technologies and Procedures Division, Flight Operations Group:
Mark Patterson, Mark.Patterson@faa.gov or
Scott Bender, Scott.W.Bender@faa.gov or
Shawn Silverman, Shawn.G-CTR.Silverman@faa.gov
[AFS-410, Published 4/20/22]
