Data Communications Implementation Team

Tower Data Link Services

Controller Pilot Data Link Communication
Departure Clearance Service (CPDLC-DCL)
Flight Deck User Guide

Version 2.0
March 31, 2016

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Data Communications Implementation Team (DCIT): (CPDLC-DCL) Flight Deck User Guide

Change History Page

Version Date Description of Change

1.0 April 30, 2015 Initial issue of the Data Communications Implementation
Team (DCIT) Tower Data Link Services (TDLS)
Departure Clearance Service (DCL) Flight Deck User
Guide

2.0 March 31, 2016 TDLS System update Push DCL, Cockpit flow diagram
and description of Logon Procedure with PUSH DCL
services, General document update to include Airbus
aircraft pictures for Integrated CPDLC interface and
DCDU

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Executive Summary
CPDLC Departure Clearance Services (CPDLC-DCL) will be introduced at local Tower Data Link Service
(TDLS) equipped facilities to provide the delivery of departure clearances and revised departure
clearances through advanced automation and Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) as
part of the FAA NextGen introduction of advanced communications services in the NAS. The Data
Communications Implementation Team (DCIT) Tower Data Link System (TDLS) CPDLC Departure
Clearance Service (CPDLC-DCL) Flight Deck User Guide introduces flight crews to the concept of DCL and
outlines the roles of the Airline Operations Center, clearance delivery controllers, and flight crews. The
document describes the general procedures for logging on, loading the flight plan, receiving the DCL,
responding to the DCL message and logging off. Examples of different types of revised DCLs are
provided with guidance for reviewing, processing and responding to the clearances.

Purpose
The following guidance material will support operators participating in the FAAs Departure Clearance
Services at participating TDLS airports. Operators should extract information from this CPDLC-DCL Flight
Deck User Guide that will support their participation in the DCL services. Recommended DCL procedures
or guidance is supplemental to the procedures recommended in the Global Operational Data Link
Document, (which is planned to be published as the Global Operational Data Link (GOLD) Manual by
ICAO in November 2016). Where appropriate, this guidance should be included in flight crew standard
operational procedures. While GOLD does not directly address Departure Clearances on the ground, the
reference to operational procedures should be thought of as additional guidance material supporting
currently approved airline procedures. When CPDLC-DCL guidance deviates from GOLD recommended
procedures, this document will identify the differences when appropriate.

Participation in this CPDLC-DCL service is at the discretion of the flight crew and/or operator. If the flight
crew chooses not to participate, they will contact Clearance Delivery via voice for their ATC clearance or,
if TDLS CPDLC is inoperative, request a PDC using standard SOPs per the ATC flight plan filing instruction
and operators guidance concerning departure clearance retrieval.

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CPDLC-DCL Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................6
Chapter 2. Departure Clearance Service (CPDLC-DCL) .......................................................................6
Chapter 3. Flight Deck .....................................................................................................................7
3.1 Controls and Indicators ............................................................................................................ 7
3.2 The flight crew should (ACCEPT) the clearance when: ............................................................ 8
3.3 The flight crew should (REJECT/UNABLE) the clearance when: .............................................. 9
3.4 The Flight Crew should select (STANDBY) when: ..................................................................... 9
3.5 (LOAD) Transferring Route Clearance Information to the FMS ............................................ 9
3.6 CPDLC ATC Log ......................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 4. Flight Crew Procedures and Guidance ........................................................................... 10
4.1 Loading the Original Filed Flight Plan..................................................................................... 10
4.2 CPDLC LOGON ........................................................................................................................ 11
4.3 DCL - Departure Clearance: .................................................................................................... 11
4.4 Flight Crew Processing of DCL ................................................................................................ 13
4.4.1 At the Gate ............................................................................................................................. 13
4.4.2 Off the Gate............................................................................................................................ 13
4.5 Termination of CPDLC DCL Services ....................................................................................... 14
4.5.1 ATC Initiated Termination while airborne.............................................................................. 14
4.5.2 Flight Crew initiated CPDLC logoff ......................................................................................... 14
Chapter 5. Departure Clearances (DCL) .......................................................................................... 15
5.1 Then As Filed ....................................................................................................................... 15
5.2 Change from Filed Flight Plan Initial Clearance................................................................... 15
5.3 Types of Revised DCLs ............................................................................................................ 15
Chapter 6. DCL Examples ............................................................................................................... 17
6.1 Depiction of THEN AS FILED or Revised Initial DCL Including CLEARED TO POSITION AS
FILED" ............................................................................................................................................... 17
6.2 DCL Full Route Clearance FMS Loadable .......................................................................... 19
6.3 Change in Departure Procedure Connect Downstream ..................................................... 20
6.4 REVISED DCL Downstream Route Modification to Destination .......................................... 21
Chapter 7. FAQ Section (Harris Provided TBD) ............................................................................. 22

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Figures
Figure 1. Indication of ATC message (Boeing).................................................................................7
Figure 2. Function Execute Keys (Boeing) .......................................................................................7
Figure 3. A320 & A330/A340 controls and indications for FANS (Airbus) .........................................7
Figure 4. A380 / A350 controls and indications for FANS (Airbus) ...................................................8
Figure 5. Examples of Clearance Response Page ............................................................................8
Figure 6. Overview of Flight Crew Departure Clearance Activities ................................................. 10
Figure 7. Boeing ATC Index page w/Clearance ............................................................................. 11
Figure 8. Verification/Send ......................................................................................................... 12
Figure 9. Figure 9. ATC OTHER REQ page on A330/A340 .............................................................. 12
Figure 10. REQUEST page on A380 / A350...................................................................................... 12
Figure 11. Depiction of a Loadable DCL Information....................................................................... 15
Figure 12. Depiction of a revision to the initial portion of the DCL. ................................................. 16
Figure 13. Depiction of a revision to the latter portion of the DCL .................................................. 16
Figure 14. Depiction of a complete route modification. ................................................................. 17
Figure 15. Depiction of DCL including THEN AS FILED .................................................................. 17
Figure 16. Depiction of DCL including CLEARED TO POSITIONAS FILED ......................................... 18
Figure 17. Depiction of DCL including a full route clearance ........................................................... 19
Figure 18. Depiction of Revised DCL including REST OF ROUTE UNCHANGED ............................... 20
Figure 19. Depiction of a Route Modification downstream of the DP Transition Fix to Destination .. 22

Appendices

Appendix A: B777 DCL Service Procedures Example ........................................................................ 23

Appendix B: Airbus DCL Procedure Example ................................................................................... 24
Appendix C: ERROR Messaging (TBD) ............................................................................................. 25
Appendix D: DCL Message Format structure definition (see DCP TDLS IRD) ..................................... 25

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Chapter 1. Introduction
Voice communication frequencies used by pilots and air traffic control (ATC) are becoming increasingly
congested and will not be able to accommodate the projected increase in air traffic demand. Use of data
communications (Data Comm) to supplement some routine voice communications will increase
efficiency, capacity, and safety. The FAA Data Communications Program (DCP) initiatives will be
incrementally implemented to provide advanced communication capabilities and the transition from
analog voice to an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) compliant system in which digital
communications become the predominant mode of communication.

Chapter 2. Departure Clearance Service (CPDLC-DCL)

The Departure Clearance Service (DCL) provides automated assistance for requesting and delivering
initial and revised departure clearances. CPDLC-DCL provides CPDLC messages for the following: Flight
plan route, initial and requested altitude, beacon code assignment and departure frequency. When
CPDLC-DCL is provided through the use of CPDLC, this information is exchanged using CPDLC messaging.
For DCL, the messages will be selected from those already used in FANS equipped aircraft. The CPDLC-
DCL service is designed for use in surface operations and supplements the existing PDC at TDLS sites for
participating aircraft. A summary of the roles of the Airlines Operations Center (AOC) or company
dispatch, clearance delivery controller, and flight crew are described below:

AOC / System Dispatch. Just as in current operations, the aircraft operator will file an ATC flight
plan with the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) associated with the departure airport via
a ground-to-ground communication system. Also, Dispatch will receive courtesy copies of
Departure Clearances sent to the aircraft.

Clearance Delivery Controller. ATC automation creates a proposed DCL and presents it to the
controller for review. The controller may modify the DCL with local data such as a Departure
Procedure and approves or revises the DCL. Upon delivery of the DCL to the aircraft, the
automation system forwards a copy of the DCL to the AOC.

Flight Crew. The flight crew activates the data link system as they prepare the aircraft for the
flight by logging on using AFN (ATS Facilities Notifications) to the ATC system. ATC can accept
valid logon data before the controller reviews the DCL for approval. When the controller reviews
and approves the Departure clearance, ATC accepts the logon and initiates a CPDLC connection
between the aircraft and ATC. ATC transmits a controller approved DCL to the aircraft via the
CPDLC connection. If changes in tower or en route conditions occur for weather or other
reasons, ATC will amend the clearance information and transmit a revised DCL to the flight crew.

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Chapter 3. Flight Deck

3.1 Controls and Indicators

On Boeing implementations, the EICAS advisory message ATC (shown in Figure 1) or Airbus
aircraft ATC MSG pushbutton on the glareshield (figure 3) along with an audible tone in the
cockpit indicates that a message from ATC is available for viewing. To view the message, select
the MCDU ATC or ATC COMM Function key (shown below in Figure 2). Figures 3 and 4 show
Airbus implementations to view ATC messages.

Figure 1. Indication of ATC message (Boeing)

Figure 2. Function Execute Keys (Boeing)

Figure 3. A320 & A330/A340 controls and indications for FANS (Airbus)

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Figure 4. A380 / A350 controls and indications for FANS (Airbus)

Available responses to ATC to a Departure Clearance are ACCEPT, REJECT, and STANDBY (see
Figure 5 below).

Figure 5. Examples of Clearance Response Page

3.2 The flight crew should ACCEPT the clearance when:

1. The FMS indicates that the clearance has been successfully loaded to include a manual entry
of the DP/TRN and Runway if necessary, reviewed per SOP and no discontinuities exist, and

2. No clarification from ATC is required

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3.3 The flight crew should REJECT/UNABLE the clearance when:

1. The FMS indicates that it cannot load the clearance (e.g. the clearance was unable to be
loaded or only part of the clearance loaded and the flight crew was unable to resolve the
clearance); or

2. The FMS indicates any inconsistencies or discontinuities with the route modification that are
not addressed by AIPs or local procedures and the flight crew was unable to resolve the
clearance; or

3. When company policies require the flight crew to obtain a new clearance.

Note: The flight crew should use voice to clarify a clearance due to any loading failures,
route discontinuities, or inconsistencies. If equipped, the ATC Review Page or displayed
full route clearance may be used to resolve the clearance instead of voice.

3.4 The Flight Crew should select STANDBY when:

A timely response is not practical; the appropriate interim response is STANDBY. For example, a
STANDBY response is appropriate when company procedures require an operational assessment of the
reroute by dispatch or the AOC.

3.5 Transferring Route Clearance Information to the FMS

The LOAD option is available when ATC Route Information is included in the CPDLC DCL UPLINK.
Selecting LOAD will transfer route information into the FMS RTE or Secondary Flight Plan allowing the
flight crew to review and accept the departure clearance per company procedures.

Note: The FMS checks the loadable portion of the clearance to ensure it is correctly
formatted and compatible with the FMS navigation database. Remember, the
Departure and Departure Transition is not included in the Loadable Route uplink and
must be manually entered by the crew into the FMS when provided in the DCL.

3.6 CPDLC ATC Log

The ATC LOG function allows previous messages to be viewed by the flight crew when necessary.

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Chapter 4. Flight Crew Procedures and Guidance

Figure 6. Overview of Flight Crew Departure Clearance Activities

4.1 Loading the Original Filed Flight Plan

Flight crews will have a flight plan on board to initially load the FMS with the filed route of flight. Crews
should load the flight plan that was filed with ATC into the FMS via either;

1. Company FMS Uplink with Route, Wind, Performance and T/O company uplink, or

2. Manually-entered full Route, Wind, Performance and takeoff information from the onboard
flight plan per company procedures.

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4.2 CPDLC LOGON or AFN Notification

Logon or AFN Notification to ATC may be completed anytime during pre-flight operations. Within P-30
minutes of the proposed departure time, an ATC Connection Established message will be received by
the aircraft if the following conditions are met: the Logon Information was correctly formatted, there is
an ATC Filed Flight Plan on File, Company Dispatch has indicated to the FAA that the aircraft is DCL
capable via the flight plan and the ATC Controller has approved the DCL.

NOTE: If the initial attempt to logon/AFN Notification fails, flight crews should ensure that a flight plan is
on file, verify the Logon information is correct, then one additional logon attempt should be made. If
the second logon attempt fails, the crew should revert to voice and contact clearance delivery for the
Departure Clearance or revert to PDC if your company has indicated this is your airlines preferred
method of data communication with the FAA.

Note: Reverting to PDC is only available if entire CPDLC DCL service is unavailable at
the TDLS facility.

4.3 DCL - Departure Clearance Delivery:

Once a successful ATC Connection has been established and your Departure Clearance has been
approved by the controller, the DCL will be automatically sent to the aircraft.

Note: If appropriate and after the first received uplinked clearance, the aircrew may request
a subsequent Departure Clearance using only REQUEST CLEARANCE (DM25) feature in the
avionics. This will result in either a Full Route Clearance (UM80) or a Cleared To Position Via
Route Clearance (UM79) uplink being delivered to the aircraft.

Boeing Aircraft: To request the DCL, on the ATC page, select the CLEARANCE, followed by request
SEND. See Figure 7 and 8 for MCDU examples.

Figure 7. Boeing ATC Index page w/Clearance

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Figure 8. Verification/Send
Airbus Aircraft: On A320/330/A340 aircraft, to request the DCL, on ATC OTHER REQ page, select
CLEARANCE. Then select ATC REQ DISPL to generate the downlink on DCDU. See Figure 9.

Figure 9. ATC OTHER REQ page on A320/330/A340

On A350/380 aircraft, to request the DCL, on REQUEST page, select OTHER in the CLEARANCE sub-
menu. Then select XFR TO MAILBOX to generate the downlink on Mailbox. See Figure 10.

Figure 10. REQUEST page on A380 / A350

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When making a Departure Clearance request, DO NOT add any Free Text to the downlink page. If
any free text information is added, the ground system will reject the message and send an auto
reply message indicating MESSAGE NOT SUPPORTED BY THIS ATS UNIT.

4.4 Flight Crew Processing of DCL

Flight crews should treat any CPDLC-DCL sent to the aircraft just like they would any voice or PDC
clearance per company procedures when reviewing and accepting route clearances. One additional
feature of the CPDLC-DCL Service is the ability to introduce revisions to a previously cleared flight plan
which can be received at any time until the aircraft is handed off to the tower for takeoff. Amendments
can be a simple altitude change or a more complex full reroute. When notified of a revised clearance,
flight crews should use good judgment and follow company procedures in reviewing and responding in a
timely manner to revised clearances.

4.4.1 At the Gate

When an initial/revised CPDLC-DCL is received, flight crews should act in accordance with company
policy or best operational judgment in a timely manner, to review the initial or revised clearance and
either accept-wilco / reject-unable / standby, as appropriate.

4.4.2 Off the Gate

Flight crew should act in accordance with company policy or best operational judgment in a timely
manner, to review the revised clearance and either accept-wilco / reject-unable/ standby, as
appropriate.

A revised clearance may contain simple changes (e.g., a revised transponder code) or complex changes
(e.g., a full re-route). Complex revisions may require substantial heads-down time for FMS route
loading and verification. Whether or not these activities will be able to be conducted without requesting
additional time from ATC will depend on a variety of factors and is at the discretion of the flight crew. In
some cases, it may not be prudent to conduct these activities when the aircraft is in motion (such as
approaching a runway). It is advisable to notify the appropriate ATC controller (ground or tower control)
and pull out of the ground traffic flow when:

Required by company procedures,

In areas of high traffic density or high-tempo operations,

In low-visibility or nighttime operations, or

When safety dictates.

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4.5 Termination of CPDLC DCL Services

4.5.1 ATC Initiated Termination while airborne

1. After Takeoff, flight crews can expect an automated ATC initiated disconnect 5-10 minutes
after Takeoff. The disconnect time may be modified by local agreement as determined by
the DCIT.

2. Flight crews are reminded to logon to the next FIR/Data Authority when transitioning to the
OCEAN environment. The TDLS system does not have controller to controller handoff
capability. If the flight is still connected to the TDLS system, the flight crew will have to
disconnect / terminate the TDLS session and create a New CPDLC /AFN logon with the next
controller before the controller can establish a CPDLC connection.

4.5.2 Flight Crew/ATC initiated CPDLC connection Termination

If the flight crew elects to disconnect their ATC CPDLC connection, or the CPDLC session is terminated by
the controller while on the ground, all subsequent Departure Clearance services with ATC clearance
delivery will be handled via voice. Accepted CPDLC Clearances will remain in effect for that flight unless
amended by Clearance Delivery via voice.

1. For the DCL Service, the automated ATC disconnect after takeoff may be adjusted for local
airspace requirements for flight crew sterile periods (e.g., eliminate nuisance alerts).

2. Flight crews are reminded to logon to the next FIR/Data Authority when transitioning to the
OCEAN environment. The TDLS system does not have controller-to-controller handoff
capability. If the flight is still connected to the TDLS system, the flight crew will need to
disconnect / terminate the session before logging on to the next ATS Unit.

Note: At any time flight crews should Contact Clearance Delivery by voice:

To clarify the delivered clearance,

To request an amendment,

When requested by Ground Control,

Whenever safety dictates, or

Anytime when confusion exists or clarification is needed.

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Chapter 5. Departure Clearances (DCL)

5.1 Then As Filed

When no changes have been made to the filed flight plan, ATC will send a Then As Filed Departure
Clearance that does not contain a loadable route clearance:

Flight crews will obtain the FMS route information from the onboard flight plan or from company
dispatch and manually insert the Departure Procedure/Transition and Runway (if applicable)
obtained from the DCL into the FMS.

5.2 Change from Filed Flight Plan Initial Clearance

If ATC has modified the filed flight plan, a FMS loadable route clearance will be sent to the aircraft with
either a CLEARED ROUTE CLEARANCE or CLEARED TO POSITION VIA ROUTE CLEARANCE message.

Caution: After loading the uplinked CPDLC DCL Clearance, it is important to use the individual
FMS pages to request AOC/Company Wind, Performance, and/or Takeoff data, or manually
enter the data per company procedures. Do not use the (Boeing) AOC/Company FMS RTE page
ROUTE REQUEST functions for these requests. Using the (Boeing) AOC/Company FMS
ROUTE REQUEST or (Airbus) FMS INIT/CPNY F-PLN Request function will delete the cleared
ATC assigned route from the FMS.

Figure 11. Depiction of a Loadable DCL Information

5.3 Types of Revised DCLs

If the cleared route is modified after the original DCL has been ACCEPTED, ATC will send a revised DCL to
the aircraft. The route modification will have one of three (3) types of loadable enroute waypoints

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clearances (as shown in Figures 12-14). (Recall that Departure Procedures/Transitions and the
Departure Runway are always manually entered by the flight crew.):

A change in the Departure Procedure and/or transition fix and route that connects downstream to
the previously cleared route. In the example shown in Figure 12 below, the clearance from TORNIN
to MCB is the modified route and may be loaded into the FMS via the LOAD prompt. The Departure
Procedure DARTZ3.TORNN must be manually entered into the FMS along with the runway (if
required). NOTE: This type of clearance can also be issued as a Revised Initial Clearance as your
first received DCL. This would be noted with a text string of THIS IS A REVISED CLEARANCE within
the clearance.

Figure 12. Depiction of a revision to the initial portion of the DCL.

OR

A change to the clearance after the Departure Procedure Transition Fix, or downstream of the first
enroute waypoint (when there is no Departure Procedure contained in the cleared flight plan). In
the example shown in Figure 13 below, the portion of the clearance from AEX to KMIA has been
revised and may be loaded into the FMS via the LOAD prompt.

Figure 13. Depiction of a revision to the latter portion of the DCL

OR

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A complete route modification that does not connect to the previously cleared flight plan (see
example in Figure 14 below) and may be loaded into the FMS via the LOAD prompt.

Figure 14. Depiction of a complete route modification.

Chapter 6. DCL Examples

6.1 Depiction of THEN AS FILED or Revised Initial DCL Including CLEARED TO

POSITION AS FILED"
Flight crew manually inserts the flight plan into the FMS or obtains an AOC Flight Plan FMS uplink. The
Departure Procedure/ Transition Fix will be included in the Departure Clearance as Free Text and if
applicable which requires a manual entry into the FMS route.

Figure 15. Depiction of DCL including THEN AS FILED

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1. In this example shown in Figure 15, no changes have been made to the AOC Dispatch Filed
ATC flight plan:

a. CLEARED TO KMIA AIRPORT indicates the clearance to the Destination Airport. This is
followed by;
b. CLARE2.EIC, Departure Procedure (manually entered by the flight crew) that will
include a Transition Fix which will connect up to the ATC filed route of flight, then
c. THEN AS FILED, will be appended after the Departure Procedure/Transition Fix. Crew
should use their flight plan to ensure the filed ATC route is inserted / loaded into the FMS
and then verify the cleared route per company procedures.
2. MAINTAIN 10000FT.

a. This will be the Initial cleared altitude if included, otherwise crews can expect in this
field CLIMB VIA SID or CLIMB VIA SID EXCEPT MAINT 8000 FT.
Note: If a CLIMB VIA SID is included in the clearance then there is a vertical profile
associated with the Departure Procedure. Altitude and/or Speed Restrictions remain in
force unless ATC amends the Departure Profile.

3. EXPECT FL340 10 MIN AFT DP. DPFREQ 126.250

a. EXPECT altitudes are provided and should be verified against the filed flight plan. No
revision notice will be provided if it is different from the filed flight plan.
1) If different from Filed use standard company procedures to determine if
acceptable
b. Departure frequency will be provided and should be verified against the Departure
Page if available.

Figure 16. Depiction of DCL including CLEARED TO POSITIONAS FILED

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4. In the example shown in Figure 16 (above), the controller has received an amendment to the
FILED ATC Clearance request which connects at the downstream waypoint DNJ. VIA ROUTE
CLEARANCE is the Loadable portion of the clearance which contains the modified route to
the Cleared TO Position point DNJ.

5. AFTER DNJ CLEARED TO PANC ARPT AS FILED indicates to the flight crew that they are
cleared after DNJ to destination via their original FILED ATC route.
Not Shown: Squawk and Local INFO which in this case would be on page 2/2. See Figure 17 for
this example.

6.2 DCL Full Route Clearance FMS Loadable

When the AOC Dispatch Filed ATC flight plan does not exactly match the ATC provided clearance, the
controller will provide the flight crew with a FMS loadable full route clearance.

Note: Full Route Clearance is also used when a revised DCL is not able to append to an
originally cleared route of flight. In this case, the uplinked message format in Figure 13
would be used for re-routes.

Figure 17. Depiction of DCL including a full route clearance

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1. CLEARED ROUTE CLEARANCE or CLEARED, shown in Figure 17, indicates that there has
been an amendment to the Filed ATC Filed Flight Plan or a THEN AS FILED clearance from
the controller is not available and a fully loadable FMS clearance is available for review.

Note: "Then As Filed is not included in this Departure Clearance and the onboard flight
plan will not exactly match the FMS loaded clearance. Use company procedures when
changes to the filed flight plan occur.

2. Load Prompt allows the flight crew to load the ATC clearance into the FMS. Flight crews
must load the ATC provided Cleared Route and manually insert the DP/TRN into the FMS
using standard operating procedures and review the clearance prior to accepting it.

3. Squawk should be selected in the transponder panel.

6.3 Change in Departure Procedure Connect Downstream

A revised clearance that contains a change to only the initial portion of the flight plan and is intended to
connect to a position or point on the previously accepted ATC clearance will have a Revised RTE
header with a loadable clearance and will be followed by REST OF ROUTE IS UNCHANGED. Flight
crews should load this amended clearance into the FMS, review the amendment before performing a
FMS execute function, and then either ACCEPT/WILCO or REJECT/UNABLE the revised clearance based
on company procedures for route modifications.

Figure 18. Depiction of Revised DCL including REST OF ROUTE UNCHANGED

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1. REVISED RTE

REVISED RTE, shown in Figure 18, is a Free Text message indicating to the crew a
revised route is the reason for the uplinked message. The revised header is intended to
indicate to the crew what has actually been revised.
Possible Revised Header TAGS that may be attached to a revised DCL include RTE, DP,
ALT, EXP ALT, DEP FREQ, EDCT, or SQUAWK.
2. CLEARED TO DORET VIA ROUTE CLEARANCE or CLEARED TO DORET VIA BNA

In this example, the controller has received an amendment to the previously cleared ATC
Clearance which connects up to the downstream waypoint DORET. VIA ROUTE
CLEARANCE or VIA BNA is the Loadable portion of the clearance.
3. MEM 8 DEP, AFTER DORET REST OF ROUTE UNCHANGED

MEM 8 DEP is a departure procedure manually inserted in to the FMS.

AFTER DORET Rest Of Route Unchanged indicates to the flight crew that they are cleared
via their original/previously cleared DCL after DORET to destination.

6.4 REVISED DCL Downstream Route Modification to Destination

When an Uplinked Revised Clearance is received with a route modification after the Departure
Procedure transition fix, a loadable route clearance to destination will be included from a Fix in the
previously cleared route. This type of amendment can modify any portion of the previously cleared
route from the Departure Procedure Transition fix up to any point to include the arrival procedure
transition fix to destination.

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Figure 19. Depiction of a Route Modification downstream of the DP Transition Fix to

Destination
1. As shown in Figure 19, the controller has received an amendment to the previously cleared
route of flight at waypoint ROD. The loadable FMS clearance will start at ROD and will
include the amended route with an arrival procedure (if applicable) to the destination.

2. Load Prompt allows the flight crew to load the ATC amended route from ROD to the
destination into the FMS. Use standard operating procedures to review and verify loaded
route and then reply with Accept/Wilco, Reject/Unable or Standby as appropriate.

Chapter 7. FAQ Section (Harris Provided TBD)

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Appendix A: B777 DCL Service Procedures Example

Flight Crew Procedures for DCL B777

Audible Chime with EICAS ATC Responding to an Uplinked Clearance

ATC Function Key..Select ATC MCDU Key..Select

Return to the ATC Communication message and
View the message and act appropriately on the after the flight crew agrees with the ATC Departure
message. Clearance and have verified route upload to the
FMC
Verify the Altitude and Squawk as part of the uplinked ACCEPT ...Select
Clearance. Standby, Reject are also available response as
needed by the flight crew
Request a Departure Clearance (DCL), If required Manual Entry of DP and Runway
ATC MCDU Key.Select Dept/ARR....Select
Clearance 4R....Select RWY.Select
REQUEST CLEARANCE.Select Procedure...Select
SEND...Select Transition...Select
RTE.....Select
Verify the appropriate Departure Procedure,
Runway and Transition are correct against the DCL
with no Route Discontinuities
Execute.Select
Loading and Verifying an FMS uplinked DCL LEGS Page / Distance check for Uplinked DCL

LoadSelect LOAD LEGS ...Select

prompt automatically updates FMC RTE page with Map Mode..Select
route clearance information. Step through the legs page using Step at 6R and
FMC RTE ...Select observe on the Navigation Display:
Verify .DEPT Airport o Waypoints and Altitude constraints agree
Verify ..DEST Airport with those on the filed flight plan and
Verify ....Runway If part navigation charts, and
of the Uplinked Clearance, otherwise this is a o No discontinuities exist between
manual entry waypoints
Verify .FLT NO: Verify that an active waypoint is depicted in 1L on
For Example:CAL123 LEGS page 1
Verify..Cleared Route Verify the total route distance is proper for route of
The Departure Procedure and Runway will require flight versus the filed flight plan
manual entry if provided
Activate....Select
EXEC .Select
to complete the RTE page upload

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 Data Communications Implementation Team (DCIT): (CPDLC-DCL) Flight Deck User Guide

Appendix B: Airbus DCL Procedure Example, Flight Crew Procedures for

DCL A320/A330/A340
Ring tone with ATC MSG lights flashing Responding to an Uplinked Clearance
(Uplink message displayed on DCDU)
On DCDU Review the ATC message.
ATC MSG p/b .............................................................Press
This will turn of the lights and stop aural alert After the flight crew agrees with the ATC Departure
Clearance and have verified route upload in the FMS:
View the message and act appropriately on the message. WILCO ............................................................ Select
Verify the Altitude and Squawk as part of the uplinked STBY or UNABLE are also available answer as needed
Clearance. by the flight crew
SEND ................................................................ Select
Request a Departure Clearance (DCL), if required Manual Entry of DP and Runway
On MCDU On MCDU
ATC COM key ................................................... Select Departure airport on F-PLN page ..................... Select
OTHER REQ (2R) ............................................... Select DEPARTURE (1L) ............................................... Select
CLEARANCE (3L) ............................................... Select RWY.................................................................. Select
ATC REQ DISPLAY (6R)...................................... Select SID .................................................................... Select
TRANS .............................................................. Select
On DCDU
On the resulting temporary flight plan, verify the
SEND ................................................................ Select
appropriate Departure Procedure, Runway and
Depending on A/C version, it may be necessary to
Transition are correct against the DCL and there is no
manually close the request selecting CLOSE (2R) after
Route Discontinuities.
sending.
INSERT (6R) or TMPY INSERT (6R) ................... Select

Loading and Verifying an FMS uplinked DCL F-PLN Page / Distance check for Uplinked DCL
On DCDU F-PLN key on MCDU ......................................... Select
LOAD ................................................................ Select PLAN Mode on EFIS Control Panel ................... Select
Depending on FANS version, it may be necessary to select Scroll along the F-PLN and observe on the Navigation
OTHER before, to display the LOAD prompt. Display and F-PLN page:
LOAD automatically updates the FMS SECONDARY o Waypoints and Altitude constraints agree
F-PLN with route clearance information. with those on the filed flight plan and
navigation charts if your DCL is a CLEARED
On MCDU
AS FILED clearance, and
SEC F-PLN key................................................... Select
o No discontinuities exist between waypoints
SEC F-PLN (2L) .................................................. Select
Verify the total route distance is proper for route of
Verify.................................................. ORIGIN Airport
flight versus the filed flight plan
Verify......................................................DEST Airport
Verify............................................................. Runway
If part of the Uplinked Clearance, otherwise this is a Note: in Airbus SOP, it is recommended to
manual entry select STBY, then LOAD and finally WILCO or
Verify................................................... Cleared Route UNABLE depending on the flight crew decision
The Departure Procedure will require manual entry and
to accept or reject the clearance.
Runway selection based on field conditions
SEC F-PLN key on MCDU .................................. Select
ACTIVATE SEC (4L) ............................................ Select
to activate the secondary flight plan as the active flight
plan.

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 Data Communications Implementation Team (DCIT): (CPDLC-DCL) Flight Deck User Guide

Appendix C: ERROR Messaging (TBD)

Appendix D: DCL Message Format structure definition (see DCP TDLS IRD)

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