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 106–117
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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

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Appendix F Table F-15. Voice Communication Uplink Messages (COMU) 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 COMU-1 Instruction to establish voice contact with the specified ATSU on the specified frequency.

CONTACT (unit name) (frequency) W/U UM117 CONTACT (ICAO unit name) (frequency) UM117 CONTACT (unit name) (frequency) COMU-2 Instruction at the specified position, to establish voice contact with the specified ATSU on the specified frequency.

AT (position) CONTACT (unit name) (frequency) W/U UM118 AT (position) CONTACT (ICAO unit name) (frequency) N/A COMU-3 Instruction at the specified time, to establish voice contact with the specified ATSU on the specified frequency.

AT TIME (time) CONTACT (unit name) (frequency) W/U UM119 AT (time) CONTACT (ICAO unit name) (frequency) N/A COMU-4 Advisory of the secondary frequency.

SECONDARY FREQUENCY (frequency) R UM169 ‘SECONDARY

FREQUENCY (frequency)’ N/A COMU-5 Instruction to monitor the specified ATSU on the specified frequency. The pilot is not required to establish voice contact on the frequency.

MONITOR (unit name) (frequency) W/U UM120 MONITOR (ICAO unit name) (frequency) UM120 MONITOR (unit name) (frequency) COMU-6 Instruction at the specified position, to monitor the specified ATSU on the specified frequency. The pilot is not required to establish voice contact on the frequency.

AT (position) MONITOR (unit name) (frequency) W/U UM121 AT (position) MONITOR (ICAO unit name) (frequency) N/A F-37

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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 COMU-7 Instruction that at the specified time, to monitor the specified ATSU on the specified frequency. The pilot is not required to establish voice contact on the frequency.

AT TIME (time) MONITOR (unit name) (frequency) W/U UM122 AT (time) MONITOR (ICAO unit name) (frequency) N/A COMU-8 Instruction to check the microphone due to detection of a continuous transmission on the specified frequency.

CHECK STUCK MICROPHONE (frequency) N UM157 CHECK STUCK

MICROPHONE (frequency) Note: R response attribute.

UM157 CHECK STUCK

MICROPHONE (frequency) COMU-9 Advisory of the name of the current ATC unit.

CURRENT ATC UNIT (unit name) N N/A UM183 ‘CURRENT

ATC UNIT (unit name)’ F-38

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Appendix F Table F-16. Voice Communication Downlink Messages (COMD) 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 COMD-1 Request for voice contact on the specified frequency.

REQUEST VOICE CONTACT (frequency) Y DM20 REQUEST

VOICE CONTACT Note: Used when a frequency is not required.

DM21 REQUEST

VOICE CONTACT (frequency) Note: Used when a frequency is required.

N/A COMD-2 Notification from the intermediary aircraft of the specified response from the specified aircraft.

RELAY FROM (aircraft identification) (relayed text response) N DM67 ‘RELAY FROM (call sign) (response parameters)’ N/A F-39

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Appendix F Table F-17. Spacing Uplink Messages (SPCU) 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 SPCU-1 ATS acknowledgement for the pilot use of the in-trail procedure when the ITP aircraft is behind the reference aircraft. This message element is always concatenated with a vertical clearance.

ITP BEHIND (aircraft identification) N UM169 ‘ITP BEHIND (aircraft identification)’ Note: R response attribute.

N/A SPCU-2 ATS acknowledgement for the pilot use of the in-trail procedure when the ITP aircraft is ahead of the reference aircraft. This message element is always concatenated with a vertical clearance.

ITP AHEAD OF (aircraft identification) N UM169 ‘ITP AHEAD OF (aircraft identification)’ Note: R response attribute.

N/A SPCU-3 ATS acknowledgement for the pilot use of the in-trail procedure when the ITP aircraft is behind both reference aircraft. This message element is always concatenated with a vertical clearance.

ITP BEHIND (aircraft identification) AND BEHIND (aircraft identification) N UM169 ‘ITP BEHIND (aircraft identification)

AND BEHIND (aircraft identification)’ Note: R response attribute.

N/A SPCU-4 ATS acknowledgement for the pilot use of the in-trail procedure when the ITP aircraft is ahead of both reference aircraft. This message element is always concatenated with a vertical clearance.

ITP AHEAD OF (aircraft identification) AND AHEAD OF (aircraft identification) N UM169 ‘ITP AHEAD OF (aircraft identification) AND AHEAD OF (aircraft identification)’ Note: R response attribute.

N/A F-40