AC 90-117

editorial update

Advisory circular · Data Link Communications

Approved
September 12, 2018
Last reviewed
July 29, 2024
This change
Editorial Update to AC 90-117 (9/12/18).
Cancels
AC120-70C
Family
AC 90-117 · 2 versions
14 CFR parts
91, 121, 125, 129, 135

Guidance, not mandatory unless a rule or AD requires it. DRS record last changed November 22, 2025.

Show pages 102–113
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Appendix F Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 CSTU-4 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed at the specified time.

CROSS (position) AT TIME (time) W/U UM51 CROSS (position) AT (time) UM51 CROSS (position) AT (time) CSTU-5 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed before the specified time.

CROSS (position) BEFORE TIME (time) W/U UM52 CROSS (position) AT OR BEFORE (time) UM52 CROSS (position) AT OR BEFORE (time) CSTU-6 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed after the specified time.

CROSS (position) AFTER TIME (time) W/U UM53 CROSS (position) AT OR AFTER (time) UM53 CROSS (position) AT OR AFTER (time) CSTU-7 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed between the specified times.

CROSS (position) BETWEEN TIME (time) AND TIME (time) W/U UM54 CROSS (position) BETWEEN (time) AND (time) UM54 CROSS (position) BETWEEN (time) AND (time) CSTU-8 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed at the specified speed.

CROSS (position) AT (speed) W/U UM55 CROSS (position) AT (speed) UM55 CROSS (position) AT (speed) CSTU-9 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed at or less than the specified speed.

CROSS (position) AT (speed) OR LESS W/U UM56 CROSS (position) AT OR LESS THAN (speed) N/A CSTU-10 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed at or greater than the specified speed.

CROSS (position) AT (speed) OR GREATER W/U UM57 CROSS (position) AT OR

GREATER THAN (speed) N/A F-25

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Appendix F Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 CSTU-11 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed at the specified time and at the level or within the vertical range as specified.

CROSS (position) AT TIME (time) AT (level) W/U UM58 CROSS (position) AT (time) AT (altitude) Note: A vertical range cannot be provided.

UM62 AT (time) CROSS (position) AT

AND MAINTAIN (altitude) Note 1: A vertical range cannot be provided.

Note 2: This message element is equivalent to CSTU-11 plus LVLU-5 in ICAO Doc 4444.

N/A CSTU-12 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed before the specified time and at the level or within the vertical range as specified.

CROSS (position) BEFORE TIME (time) AT (level) W/U UM59 CROSS (position) AT OR BEFORE (time) AT (altitude) Note: A vertical range cannot be provided.

N/A CSTU-13 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed after the specified time and at the level or within the vertical range as specified.

CROSS (position) AFTER TIME (time) AT (level) W/U UM60 CROSS (position) AT OR AFTER (time) AT (altitude) Note: A vertical range cannot be provided.

N/A F-26

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Appendix F Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 CSTU-14 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed at the level or within the vertical range, as specified, and at the specified speed.

CROSS (position) AT (level) AT (speed) W/U UM61 CROSS (position) AT AND MAINTAIN (altitude) AT (speed) Note 1: A vertical range cannot be provided.

Note 2: This message element is equivalent to CSTU-14 plus LVLU-5 in ICAO Doc 4444.

UM61 CROSS (position) AT AND MAINTAIN (level) AT (speed) CSTU-15 Instruction that the specified position is to be crossed at the specified time at the level or within the vertical range, as specified, and at the specified speed.

CROSS (position) AT TIME (time) AT (level) AT (speed) W/U UM63 AT (time) CROSS (position) AT

AND MAINTAIN (altitude) AT (speed) Note 1: A vertical range cannot be provided.

Note 2: This message element is equivalent to CSTU-15 plus LVLU-5 in ICAO Doc 4444.

N/A F-27

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Appendix F Table F-11. Speed Uplink Messages (SPDU) Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 SPDU-1 Notification that a speed instruction may be issued to take effect at the specified time.

EXPECT SPEED CHANGE AT TIME (time) R UM100 AT (time) EXPECT (speed) N/A SPDU-2 Notification that a speed instruction may be issued to take effect at the specified position.

EXPECT SPEED CHANGE AT (position) R UM101 AT (position) EXPECT (speed) N/A SPDU-3 Notification that a speed instruction may be issued to take effect at the specified level.

EXPECT SPEED CHANGE AT (level single) R UM102 AT (altitude) EXPECT (speed) N/A SPDU-4 Instruction to maintain the specified speed.

MAINTAIN (speed) W/U UM106 MAINTAIN (speed) UM106 MAINTAIN (speed) SPDU-5 Instruction to maintain the present speed.

MAINTAIN PRESENT SPEED W/U UM107 MAINTAIN

PRESENT SPEED UM107 MAINTAIN

PRESENT SPEED SPDU-6 Instruction to maintain the specified speed or a greater.

MAINTAIN (speed) OR

GREATER W/U UM108 MAINTAIN (speed) OR

GREATER UM108 MAINTAIN (speed) OR

GREATER SPDU-7 Instruction to maintain the specified speed or a less.

MAINTAIN (speed) OR LESS W/U UM109 MAINTAIN (speed) OR LESS UM109 MAINTAIN (speed) OR LESS SPDU-8 Instruction to maintain the specified speed range.

MAINTAIN (speed) TO (speed) W/U UM110 MAINTAIN (speed) TO (speed) N/A SPDU-9 Instruction that the present speed is to be increased to the specified speed and maintained until further advised.

INCREASE SPEED TO (speed) W/U UM111 INCREASE SPEED TO (speed) N/A F-28

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Appendix F Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 SPDU-10 Instruction that the present speed is to be increased to the specified speed or greater, and maintained at or above the specified speed until further advised.

INCREASE SPEED TO (speed) OR GREATER W/U UM112 INCREASE SPEED TO (speed)

OR GREATER N/A SPDU-11 Instruction that the present speed is to be reduced to the specified speed and maintained until further advised.

REDUCE SPEED TO (speed) W/U UM113 REDUCE SPEED TO (speed) N/A SPDU-12 Instruction that the present speed is to be reduced to the specified speed or less and maintained at or below the specified speed until further advised.

REDUCE SPEED TO (speed)

OR LESS W/U UM114 REDUCE SPEED TO (speed)

OR LESS N/A SPDU-13 Instruction to resume a normal speed. The aircraft no longer needs to comply with a previously issued speed restriction.

RESUME NORMAL SPEED W/U UM116 RESUME

NORMAL SPEED UM116 RESUME

NORMAL SPEED SPDU-14 Indication that the preferred speed may be flown without restriction.

NO SPEED RESTRICTION R UM169 ‘NO SPEED RESTRICTION’ UM222 NO SPEED

RESTRICTION F-29

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Appendix F Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 SPDU-15 Request to report the speed defined by the speed type(s).

REPORT (speed types) SPEED Y UM134 CONFIRM SPEED Note: NE response attribute.

UM169 ‘REPORT GROUND SPEED’ Note 1: Used when the controller is requesting the pilot to report the present ground speed.

Note 2: R response attribute.

N/A SPDU-16 Request to confirm the assigned speed.

CONFIRM ASSIGNED SPEED Y UM136 CONFIRM

ASSIGNED SPEED Note: NE response attribute.

N/A SPDU-17 Request for the earliest time or position when the specified speed can be accepted.

WHEN CAN YOU ACCEPT (speed) Y UM151 WHEN CAN

YOU ACCEPT (speed) Note: NE response attribute.

N/A F-30

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Appendix F Table F-12. Speed Downlink Messages (SPDD) Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 SPDD-1 Request for the specified speed. REQUEST (speed) Y DM18 REQUEST (speed) DM18 REQUEST (speed) SPDD-2 Request for the earliest time or position that the specified speed can be expected.

WHEN CAN WE EXPECT (speed) Y DM49 WHEN CAN WE EXPECT (speed) N/A SPDD-3 Report indicating the speed defined by the specified speed types.

(speed types) SPEED (speed) N DM34 PRESENT SPEED (speed) DM67 ‘GROUND SPEED (speed)’ Note 1: Used when the controller is requesting the pilot to report the present ground speed.

Note 2: When pre-formatting of the downlink message is not available, the pilot can shorten to GS (speed).

N/A SPDD-4 Confirmation that the assigned speed is the specified speed.

ASSIGNED SPEED (speed) N DM39 ASSIGNED SPEED (speed) N/A SPDD-5 Indication that the specified speed can be accepted at the specified time.

WE CAN ACCEPT (speed) AT TIME (time) N DM67 ‘WE CAN ACCEPT (speed) AT TIME (time)’ N/A SPDD-6 Indication that the specified speed cannot be accepted.

WE CANNOT ACCEPT (speed) N DM67 ‘WE CANNOT ACCEPT (speed)’ N/A F-31

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Appendix F Table F-13. Air Traffic Advisory Uplink Messages (ADVU) Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 ADVU-1 Advisory providing the specified altimeter setting for the specified facility.

(facility designation) ALTIMETER (altimeter setting) R UM153 ALTIMETER (altimeter) Note: The facility designation and the time of measurement cannot be provided.

UM169 ‘(facility designation)

ALTIMETER (altimeter setting)’ UM213 (facility designation)

ALTIMETER (altimeter) Note: The facility designation is always provided and the time of measurement cannot be provided.

ADVU-2 Advisory that the ATS surveillance service is terminated.

SURVEILLANCE SERVICE

TERMINATED R UM154 RADAR

SERVICES

TERMINATED UM169 ‘SURVEILLANCE

SERVICE TERMINATED’ Note: ATS advisory that the radar and/or ADS-B service is terminated.

N/A ADVU-3 Advisory that ATS surveillance service has been established. A position may be specified position.

IDENTIFIED (position[O]) R UM155 RADAR CONTACT (position) Note: The provision of the position is required.

N/A ADVU-4 Advisory that ATS surveillance contact has been lost.

IDENTIFICATION LOST R UM156 RADAR

CONTACT LOST N/A F-32

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Appendix F Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 ADVU-5 ATS advisory that the current ATIS code is as specified.

ATIS (ATIS code) R UM158 ATIS (ATIS code) Note: The airport is not provided.

N/A ADVU-6 Advisory to request again with next ATC unit.

REQUEST AGAIN WITH

NEXT ATC UNIT N UM169 ‘REQUEST

AGAIN WITH NEXT ATC UNIT’ Note: R response attribute.

UM237 REQUEST

AGAIN WITH NEXT

ATC UNIT ADVU-7 Advisory of traffic significant to the flight.

TRAFFIC IS (traffic description) R UM169 ‘TRAFFIC IS (traffic description)’ N/A ADVU-8 Instruction to report that the specified traffic has been visually sighted and passed. The instruction may indicate the estimated time of passing.

REPORT SIGHTING AND

PASSING OPPOSITE

DIRECTION (aircraft type[O]) (traffic location) (ETP time[O]) W/U UM169 ‘REPORT

SIGHTING AND

PASSING OPPOSITE

DIRECTION (traffic description) (ETP (time))’ Note: ETP Time is included when available.

N/A ADVU-9 Instruction to select the specified SSR code.

SQUAWK (SSR code) W/U UM123 SQUAWK (beacon code) UM123 SQUAWK (code) ADVU-10 Instruction to disable SSR transponder responses.

STOP SQUAWK W/U UM124 STOP SQUAWK N/A ADVU-11 Instruction to stop ADS-B transmissions.

STOP ADS-B

TRANSMISSION W/U UM169 ‘STOP ADS-B TRANSMISSION’ Note: R response attribute.

N/A ADVU-12 Instruction to include level information in the SSR transponder responses.

SQUAWK MODE C W/U UM125 SQUAWK

ALTITUDE N/A F-33

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Appendix F Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 ADVU-13 Instruction to stop including level information in the SSR transponder responses.

STOP SQUAWK MODE C W/U UM126 STOP

ALTITUDE SQUAWK N/A ADVU-14 Request to confirm the selected SSR code.

CONFIRM SQUAWK CODE Y UM144 CONFIRM SQUAWK Note: NE response attribute.

N/A ADVU-15 Instruction that the ‘ident’ function on the SSR transponder is to be actuated.

SQUAWK IDENT W/U UM179 SQUAWK IDENT UM179 SQUAWK IDENT ADVU-16 Instruction to activate the ADS- C capability.

ACTIVATE ADS-C W/U UM169 ‘ACTIVATE ADS C’ Note: R response attribute.

N/A ADVU-17 Instruction to transmit voice position reports, as specified, due to ADS-C being out of service.

ADS-C OUT OF SERVICE

REVERT TO VOICE

POSITION REPORTS W/U UM169 ‘ADS-C OUT

OF SERVICE

REVERT TO CPDLC

POSITION REPORTS’ UM169 ‘ADS-C OUT

OF SERVICE

REVERT TO VOICE

POSITION REPORTS’ Note: R response attribute.

N/A ADVU-18 Instruction to intermediary aircraft to relay the specified message to the specified aircraft on the specified frequency, when provided.

RELAY TO (aircraft identification) (unit name) (relay text) (frequency[O]) W/U UM169 ‘RELAY TO (call sign) (unit name) (text of message to be relayed) ((frequency))’ Note 1: R response attribute.

N/A F-34

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Appendix F Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 Note 2: Frequency is included when available.

ADVU-19 Request to check the aircraft lateral position, level or speed, due to the ATC unit detecting a deviation from the clearance.

(deviation type) DEVIATION DETECTED. VERIFY AND ADVISE W/U UM169 ‘LATERAL

POSITION

DEVIATION DETECTED. VERIFY AND ADVISE’ UM169 ‘LEVEL

DEVIATION DETECTED. VERIFY AND ADVISE’ UM169 ‘SPEED

DEVIATION DETECTED. VERIFY AND ADVISE’ Note: R response attribute.

N/A ADVU-20 Notification that the CPDLC transfer is expected at the specified time.

EXPECT CPDLC TRANSFER AT TIME (time) R UM169 ‘EXPECT

CPDLC TRANSFER AT TIME (time)’ Note: R response attribute.

N/A ADVU-21 Notification that the first specified ATSU will not establish CPDLC and the NDA is expected to be the second specified ATSU.

CPDLC WITH (unit name)

NOT REQUIRED EXPECT

NEXT CPDLC FACILITY (unit name) R UM169 CPDLC WITH (unit name) NOT

REQUIRED EXPECT

NEXT CPDLC FACILITY (unit name) Note: R response attribute.

N/A F-35

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Appendix F Table F-14. Air Traffic Advisory Downlink Messages (ADVD) Operational Definition in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) CPDLC Message Sets Message Element Identifier Message Element Intended Use Format for Message Element Display Resp. FANS 1/A ATN B1 ADVD-1 Report indicating that the aircraft is squawking the specified SSR code.

SQUAWKING (SSR code) N DM47 SQUAWKING (code) N/A ADVD-2 Report indicating that whether or not traffic has been visually sighted and if so, if it has been passed. May provide a description and/or location of the aircraft.

TRAFFIC (aircraft type[O]) (traffic location) (traffic visibility) N DM67 ‘(traffic identification) SIGHTED AND PASSED’ DM67 ‘(traffic identification) NOT SIGHTED’ DM67 ‘TRAFFIC SIGHTED’ N/A F-36