ATC
Budget woes delay further CPDLC trials
Citing budget constraints, senior FAA management has apparently postponed the planned expansion of controller/pilot data link communications (CPDLC) trials

Citing budget constraints, senior FAA management has apparently postponed the planned expansion of controller/pilot data link communications (CPDLC) trials beyond the present activity at the Miami ARTCC, AIN has learned. Industry sources report that the decision was based on the high costs of controller manpower.

CPDLC is viewed by the FAA, military and civil aircraft operators as offering significant improvements in ATC communications efficiency by reducing frequency congestion and providing virtually error-free messaging, which in turn increases system capacity. Gradual expansion of the Miami trials to all 20 ARTCCs across the continental U.S. was planned to start in 2005 as part of the Free Flight program.