ATC
Getting To Yes on CPDLC
The FAA has taken concrete steps to enable use of CPDLC by more business jets, but it still needs to establish performance criteria.
Garmin cockpit
(Photo: Garmin)

The FAA plans to allow additional business aircraft to use en-route controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC) again, ending a moratorium that began late last year. But the long-term goal of the NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturer Association (GAMA) is to have FAA define what constitutes acceptable CPDLC performance for avionics.

About 1,000 business aircraft, mostly jets and a few turboprops, had joined a trial program that allowed them to use en route CPDLC. However, on October 25, the FAA closed the trial to new entrants, citing concerns over acceptable performance criteria.