DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON
Eurocontrol's upper area control centre (UAC) at Maastricht, the Netherlands, has launched the world's first operational controller-pilot datalink communications system (CPDLC). Datalinking is intended to supplement air traffic control voice instructions with text transmission, taking some pressure off frequencies in busy sectors that are close to capacity for voice transmissions.
Until now screen-to-screen datalinked air traffic control (ATC) messages and pilot responses had trial status only under Eurocontrol's Link 2000+ programme and in the Florida area control centre, USA. Maastricht has now become operational, with a new control room equipped with purpose-designed CPDLC user interfaces and software.
For now, the UAC will restrict itself to non-safety-critical ATC instructions such as changing secondary surveillance radar codes, squawk ident, clearance direct between two points, or warnings to check for a stuck transmit switch, but it will gradually include others. Messages will be activated by controllers using a mouse and display window containing a message menu, and the average transaction is completed in 47s, says Eurocontrol.
There have been more than 10 airlines involved in trials to date, using future air navigation system (FANS) datalinks either via satellite or more normally via ACARS (airborne communications addressing and reporting system), but from next year Lufthansa will be the first airline to equip with the designated CPDLC VHF datalink 2 (VDL 2) equipment.
French and German centres are expected to go operational with CPDLC next, followed by Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal.
Source: Flight International
