> why is it so difficult to have their computers talk directly with the aircraft? CPDLC exists today and has been in use for a couple of decades: https://en.wi

> why is it so difficult to have their computers talk directly with the aircraft? CPDLC exists today and has been in use for a couple of decades: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller%E2%80%93pilot_data_link_communications https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller%E2%80%93pilot_data_... However, like everything in aviation, progress is slow because aircraft are expensive to buy, can last a long time, and are very expensive to modify.