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SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT (Report for the week of July 23, 2018) DATACOMM Chad Geyer (ZLA) is the Article 114 Representative for DataComm. Below is his update. Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) sites are now sending over 49,000 clearances a week. Tower Data Link Services (TDLS) version 12.5 has been deployed to 15 sites so far. Initial reaction to the build has been positive. Version 12.5 offers an enhancement to allow facilities to adapt different operational configurations. This enhancement allows additional sites to run in Auto Mode. That is a function that automatically processes initial clearances to aircraft without the controller having to manually process the clearance. The ability for a site to change information in departure clearances depending on the configuration allows for more sites to reap the benefits of Auto Mode. The program office is working on requirements for Version 12.6 that will be available at the end of the year. En Route CPDLC is now a reality. ZID and ZKC have turned on the functionality on the MIDs and are sending clearances to aircraft. Since these are key sites, voice read backs are required until the facility determines that service is working as designed. Once a facility determines the system is working correctly, the facility can remove the requirement of a voice read back from that function. The services are transfer of communication, altitudes and altimeters, crossing restrictions, and routes. National SMEs have been assisting with local SMEs to capture AIMS tickets and follow the DataComm Functional Verification (DFV) checklist. ZID has completed 162 of the 235 checklist items for DFV. The checklist items range from sending clearances using different entry methods or receiving responses from unable and wilco. There are also checklist items that require time out responses and due to reasons appended to messages. ZKC has completed 180 of the 235 checklist items. CPDLC is currently only being turned on for the mids a few nights a week at the key sites. As additional controllers are trained, additional nights will be added to increase testing and help with maintaining currency requirements. When all controllers are trained and the facility feels they are ready to proceed, the sites will turn the system on for a 24- hour run. The ERAM benchmarking process will determine if CPDLC will remain on and also what additional checklist items the site may want to add. Not all equipped aircraft are participating right now. Airlines need to have their aircraft certified for En Route Domestic CPDLC and pilot training continues. Some airlines such as Southwest do not plan on participating in En Route until Oct. 1. Fed Ex and UPS are in full participation and other airlines such as ASA, DAL and AAL are participating in a limited basis until their fleets are all trained. The software has been very stable and limited aims tickets are being written on the actual software. The majority of tickets are from local adaptation that needs to be changed or pilot's lack of knowledge of using free text when sending responses. There are also some tickets the reference the communication path of the messages and those are being triaged by Harris Corporation.

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