ATC
Bizcraft Get Breather as Euro Datalink Mandate Begins
Europe’s datalink requirement has come into force with last-minute exemptions for older airliners and business types up to narrowbody bizliners.

A mandate requiring advanced datalink capabilities on all aircraft flying above FL285 in Europe came into force last week, but many business aircraft are not yet affected thanks to an exemption added last year. Having backed off from imposing it on all aircraft from February 5, the European Commission introduced two exemptions: one for aircraft with a certificate of airworthiness first issued before Jan. 1, 2018, but fitted before that date with FANS 1/A; and secondly for aircraft with 19 seats or less and an mtow of 100,000 pounds or less, with a first individual certificate of airworthiness issued before Feb. 5, 2020.