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Yeah, I listen/watch some flight radar youtube and it’s insane how many issues arise from the language barrier, which could be solved by just communicating via

Yeah, I listen/watch some flight radar youtube and it’s insane how many issues arise from the language barrier, which could be solved by just communicating via a text channel

tjohns 16d ago
CPDLC exists and is used. It has its limitations though - it doesn’t provide as much flexibility for pilot replies, pilots don’t always have a free hand to text with (especially in turbulence), and is generally slower and more clumsy than voice so is only suitable for routine, non-time-sensitive messages.
- itopaloglu83 16d ago
  That sounds like a system that was bound to fail, because it was kept limited to a certain range of capabilities. One can easily imagine a system that broadcasts the weather and clearance, and even aircraft location data close to real-time, and provide great situational awareness to everyone involved. I don't think it's acceptable to put tens of thousands of people within a crowded airspace and not do everything in our power to keep things organized and secure.
  - tjohns 12d ago
    > That sounds like a system that was bound to fail, because it was kept limited to a certain range of capabilities. You're always going to be limited to a limited range of capabilities. You can't run a full web browser in every cockpit - you need a standardized interface that works across different vendors, across borders, and over a low-bandwidth radio link. And I don't think anybody considers CPDLC a failure. The goal was never to 100% replace voice communication. > One can easily imagine a system that broadcasts the weather That exists, it's called FIS-B. Everyone uses it. > and clearance Clearance isn't something that can just be broadcast. You need to have a conversation with the pilot to make sure the clearance is acceptable to them. The pilot needs the ability to reject the clearance and request amendments. > even aircraft location data close to real-time, and provide great situational awareness to everyone involved. This exists, it's called ADS-B. Everyone uses it.

Yeah, I listen/watch some flight radar youtube and it’s insane how many issues arise from the language barrier, which could be solved by just communicating via a text channel

tjohns 16d ago

CPDLC exists and is used. It has its limitations though - it doesn’t provide as much flexibility for pilot replies, pilots don’t always have a free hand to text with (especially in turbulence), and is generally slower and more clumsy than voice so is only suitable for routine, non-time-sensitive messages.

itopaloglu83 16d ago
That sounds like a system that was bound to fail, because it was kept limited to a certain range of capabilities. One can easily imagine a system that broadcasts the weather and clearance, and even aircraft location data close to real-time, and provide great situational awareness to everyone involved. I don't think it's acceptable to put tens of thousands of people within a crowded airspace and not do everything in our power to keep things organized and secure.
- tjohns 12d ago
  > That sounds like a system that was bound to fail, because it was kept limited to a certain range of capabilities. You're always going to be limited to a limited range of capabilities. You can't run a full web browser in every cockpit - you need a standardized interface that works across different vendors, across borders, and over a low-bandwidth radio link. And I don't think anybody considers CPDLC a failure. The goal was never to 100% replace voice communication. > One can easily imagine a system that broadcasts the weather That exists, it's called FIS-B. Everyone uses it. > and clearance Clearance isn't something that can just be broadcast. You need to have a conversation with the pilot to make sure the clearance is acceptable to them. The pilot needs the ability to reject the clearance and request amendments. > even aircraft location data close to real-time, and provide great situational awareness to everyone involved. This exists, it's called ADS-B. Everyone uses it.