IFALPA Member Association, ALPA-I has issued an Operations Bulletin concerning the deployment of Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) in US en route Domestic Airspace.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in the process of deploying Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) in US en route domestic airspace. For pilots with international or oceanic experience with CPDLC, the service is largely the same in domestic airspace. There will be some areas especially concerning LOGON, that are unique to the US.

While CPDLC is in limited part-time use now, throughout the remainder of 2018 the initial FAA ARTCCs with this capability (Indianapolis, Memphis, and Kansas City Centers) will expand service to all eligible aircraft and fleets on a 24/7 basis. The remaining ARTCCs in the domestic airspace will be activated in sequence over the course of 2019. Once airspace adjacent to Canada is activated, handoffs of CPDLC service to and from NAV CANADA will be supported.

For those wanting more information, ALPA has created a webpage, see HERE. This will be kept updated as the system is deployed.