US Domestic En Route CPDLC Updates

Welcome back to Jump Seat. Today we're briefing you on some details and timing for upcoming changes to en route CPDLC for the US Domestic region.

US Domestic En Route CPDLC: Full Services 

Currently, US Domestic En Route CPDLC is fully operational in all twenty US ARTCCs using a limited CPDLC message set that the FAA calls "Initial Services". With the Initial Services deployment complete, the FAA is now preparing to add additional messaging capability to the Initial Services message set. The addition of Advisories, Advanced Routes, Weather Deviations, and Holding Clearances via CPDLC message will be called "Full Services". This fall, the FAA will begin implementing Full Services at three Key Sites: Fort Worth ARTCC, Denver ARTCC, and Albuquerque ARTCC.

(Images courtesy of L3Harris DCIT)

Please see below for a full list of the new messages that will become available in a site capable of Full Services messaging.

Where & When?

The first three centers implemented will be ZFW/Fort Worth, ZDV/Denver, and ZAB/Albuquerque:

Current Testing Schedule:

• ZFW: Oct 6 & 7 at 2130 local
• ZDV: Nov 3 & 4 at 2200 local
• ZAB: November 17 & 18 at TBD

Expected Beginning of 24/7 Operations:

• ZFW: November 3
• ZDV: November 16
• ZAB: December 19

Learn More

The US Domestic En Route CPDLC Pilot Handbook will be updated with Full Services message guidance prior to the activation of the Key Sites (the update will take place no earlier than 25 September, the date of DCIT 97). That Pilot Handbook can be found here under “US Domestic En Route CPDLC Guides”, and also on the L3Harris Data Comm website.

Upcoming Changes to En Route CPDLC Re-Routes

Beginning on or after 22 September 2025, US ARTCCs will begin transitioning to a new format for route uplinks that change portions of your route, but not the entire route (also known as the uM79). 

(Slide courtesy of L3Harris DCIT) 

Where & When?

Scheduled to begin in ZMA/Miami on 22 September, followed by ZHU/Houston in early October, ZLC/Salt Lake in early November, with the rest of sites following. DCIT estimates the upgrades will be complete at all ARTCCs within about 6 months. Until all ARTCCs have upgraded to the new format, you will see a combination of the current and new format. 

The map below will be available on the L3Harris Data Comm website https://www.l3harris.com/datacomm which will depict each ARTCC as “New uM79 Route Clearance Format” or “Old uM79 Route Clearance Format”.  

(Slide courtesy of L3Harris DCIT)

Learn More

The US Domestic En Route CPDLC Pilot Handbook has been updated on the L3Harris Data Comm website under “US Domestic En Route CPDLC Guides”. Two separate versions of the Pilot Handbook, one with the “Legacy” uM79 format, and one with the “New” uM79 format, are now available and will remain available until all ARTCCs have upgraded to the new format. Once all ARTCCs have upgraded, only the version with the new format will remain online.

MONITOR Messages

Please see below for a summary of the new “Monitor Transfer of Communications” functionality for same sector, different frequency transfers of communication. This message will not be used for transfers between different controllers. 

Need Help?

If you have any questions, please contact DCIT@L3Harris.com.

Useful Links

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Data Communications (Data Comm) User Information | L3Harris® Fast. Forward.
• Data Communication Program (DataComm) | Federal Aviation Administration