The Federal Aviation Administration has introduced a new computer system designed to make flights safer and more efficient.
The deployment began in Salt Lake City and centers on DataComm, a digital communications platform that replaces traditional voice radio exchanges between pilots and air traffic controllers.
DataComm delivers route updates, weather information, and traffic advisories directly to the cockpit. Because messages are transmitted instantly in text form, the system can shorten the information relay process by as much as 20 minutes in some cases.
This immediacy is particularly valuable when plans must change quickly, such as when crews need to reroute around severe weather or other unplanned disruptions.
DataComm also reduces the risk of errors and miscommunication. According to FAA air traffic controller Jim McAllister, removing the exclusively voice-based element lowers opportunities for misunderstanding. The digital messages are not subject to the same signal-blocking issues that can affect radio transmissions near gates or buildings.
Eight U.S. carriers and 17 international airlines have announced plans to equip their fleets with DataComm, and roughly 50 airports are expected to have the system installed by the start of the New Year.