I'm confused about Future Air Navigation System (FANS) and Controller–pilot data link communications (CPDLC). Someone said FANS includes CPDLC, another said it does not.
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
Someone said FANS includes CPDLC, another said it does not.
It depends on the region and/or airplane generation.
There is the ICAO-compliant CPDLC used in Europe (via ATN-B1), and there is the Oceanic/US CPDLC (via ACARS).
- A plane fitted with FANS 1/A+ has the Oceanic/US CPDLC, but not the European one.
- New long-range planes like the 787 and A350 use FANS 2/B, which has both CPDLCs.$^a$
$^a$ This integration may be offered as a retrofit if it is possible. For example for Airbus – using Airbus' lingo – the A+B package was first introduced on the A350, then became available as a retrofit on the A380 (see slide below by Airbus).
(Airbus via ICAO)
For a brief historical context, see the history section I put together here.
