The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) Departure Clearance (DCL) procedures at many larger and busy airports. CPDLC DCL allows Air Traffic Control (ATC) to approve departure clearances or send departure clearances through digital communications, rather than voice communications. The digital communications procedure is much more efficient than the older voice DCL acceptance or revision requests.
Many aircraft that are equipped with CPDLC DCL have been provided with different taxiways in order to move ahead of everyone else when weather is moving in. Aircraft without this capability, can essentially be caught in the back of the line, proving airspace is developing into a “best equipped, best served” environment. Domestic operators who frequent busy airports that offer CPDLC DCL service will desire this capability, regardless of the need for oceanic FANS.
With Universal Avionics’ FANS and CPDLC solution, operators can take advantage of yet another fuel and time savings operation by utilizing the CPDLC DCL procedures.
Universal Avionics Solution
To equip for CPDLC DCL, operators need datalink Communications Management Unit (CMU) and SBAS-enabled FMS, such as Universal Avionics UniLink UL-800/801 and SBAS-FMS.
Additional information regarding CPDLC DCL can be found in our “Understanding Data Comm Systems with FANS 1/A+, CPDLC DCL and ATN B1” white paper.