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So far 2020 has been a very busy year for the DataComm program. With two IOCs (ZKC and ZID) completed and being granted an In-Service Decision (ISD) as of Jan. 31, the program is moving forward with its deployment schedule for the next 6 centers in the waterfall: ZDC, ZNY, ZTL, ZBW, ZJX, and ZHU during the first half of this year. ZDC has planned to begin its first operational test run on Feb. 16, followed by ZNY, ZTL, and ZBW in mid to late March, ZJX in April, and ZHU in May. The Data Comm program has finished collecting data from a fleet of 60 Southwest B737s that have been operating with the latest Honeywell avionics software update, Honeywell 523, since the end of November. The data shows this new avionics release will drastically reduce the CPDLC uplink delivery issues that were experienced on the Southwest fleet last year. The Southwest fleet stopped participating in En route CPDLC last summer when it was determined their current avionics software release, Honeywell 501, was interfering with the successful delivery of uplinks from the En route controllers. The new Honeywell 523 release now proves to have an approximate 99.5% success rate. On Jan. 23, the Independent Operational Assessment (IOA) team provided their report to the Data Comm program office with the conclusion that DataComm En Route Initial Services is ready for national deployment. The IOA team, which is made up of NATCA en route controllers, management officials, tech ops representatives, engineers, and a pilot representative, conducted a review of DataComm at ZKC and ZID from Dec. 2-20, 2019. The team observed 1,890 CPDLC transactions, conducted 126 questionnaires with controllers and tech ops personnel at the two centers, and interviewed 190 pilots from American, Southwest, United, UPS, Delta, and Alaska. The IOA report captured two medium and two low safety hazards, two operational concerns, and two operational comments. The DataComm Program Office, along with NATCA, are developing an action plan to address those issues through future ERAM software enhancements, updating failure mode notification processes and mitigation procedures, and continuing outreach to the pilot community. On Jan. 26, Rockwell Collins Avionics successfully completed flight tests of its latest avionics' software update, CORE 16. CORE 16 has several critical updates that will improve the performance of CPDLC on numerous Boeing fleets across many operators. With the flight tests successfully completed, Rockwell Collins believes they will be able to complete the full certification process with the FAA several days ahead of the March 1 planned release schedule. Airlines that operate Boeing fleets have begun planning their CORE 16 deployment schedules to update their aircraft in coordination with the DataComm Program Office. On Jan. 28-29, recognition ceremonies were held at ZKC and ZID to celebrate the facilities' IOC declarations last year. Key figures at each facility were presented Certificates of Appreciation recognizing them for their contribution in making the DataComm IOCs possible. Many thanks to ZKC FacRep Todd Mariani, ZKC Future Tech Rep Blake Guffey, ZKC DataComm NATCA Lead Michael Ray, ZID FacRep Marc Schneider, ZID Future Tech Rep Chris Wampler, ZID DataComm NATCA Lead Mike

• Cover
• January 27-February 2, 2020 Update