This report presents the results of our review of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) program. As requested by the Senate Appropriations Committee, we reviewed (1) the reasons for CPDLCs cancellation, (2) what work may be salvageable, and (3) what processes or controls FAA should adopt to avoid similar occurrences in the future. The CPDLC program represented a new way for controllers and pilots to communicate that is analogous to wireless email. CPDLC was planned for use at the en route centers, the facilities that manage high-altitude air traffic. CPDLC was expected to reduce aircraft direct operating costs by reducing delays and improving efficiency by (1) reducing congestion on the voice channels, and (2) reducing misunderstood instructions and read-back errors between controllers and pilots. FAA and industry jointly invested in CPDLC and began using data link on a limited basis in high-altitude airspace managed by the Miami Center in October 2002. CPDLC was expected to play an important role in the Agencys Operational Evolution Plan for enhancing capacity and reducing delays over the next decade. However, FAA subsequently decided to cancel the current CPDLC program and plans to shut down CPDLC at Miami Center and terminate all the programs activities by March 2005.


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    Title :

    Observations on FAA'S Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications Program


    Publication date :

    2004


    Size :

    17 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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