FAA seeks industry feedback on future domestic datalink services

Questions and answers: 

Q: How is cyber security addressed in the DDLS market survey? A: Vendors are asked about their experience implementing high-level security controls following NIST 800-53 and FISMA guidelines, approaches to mitigating denial-of-service attacks, threat analysis, and support for government security testing.

Q: What is the purpose of the FAA’s Domestic Datalink Services (DDLS) market survey? A: The FAA is conducting market research to gather industry input on capabilities and innovative solutions for sustaining and enhancing Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) services in U.S. domestic airspace.

Q: What are the key goals for the new DDLS system? A: Key goals include maintaining at least a 99.5% uplink message success rate, ensuring robust real-time monitoring, supporting transition from ACARS to Internet Protocol Suite (IPS) for security, and enhancing interoperability with avionics manufacturers and operators.

WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting market research for its planned Domestic Datalink Services (DDLS) program, seeking industry input on capabilities, architecture, and potential innovations for the next generation of air-ground data communications.

The DDLS initiative follows decisions made at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Aeronautical Navigation Commission 11th meeting, where the FAA began a harmonization effort with Eurocontrol under the Future Communications Study to explore a unified direction for future air traffic control (ATC) air/ground communications. Results so far indicate the United States will continue to use the very high frequency (VHF) spectrum for domestic ATC communications, which the FAA expects will satisfy operational needs beyond 2030.

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Current ATC datalink operations in the United States use commercial networks, including Future Air Navigation Services (FANS) for oceanic control and the Aircraft Communications and Reporting System (ACARS) for pre-departure clearance in some terminal environments. The FAA’s communications roadmap accommodates user preferences for existing VHF capabilities and assumes VHF Digital Link (VDL) Mode 2 technology will continue to support domestic data communications.

Uplink imperative 

The DDLS program will sustain and enhance Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) in tower and en route environments, operating within the FANS framework and meeting requirements in the FAA’s Data Communications Network Service Description. The effort is intended to maintain a robust VDL-2 network with at least a 99.5 percent uplink success rate, integrate with the FAA National Airspace Security Gateway, and provide a path toward the Next-Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and possible future Internet Protocol-based communications.

The FAA is seeking feedback on solutions for transitioning from ACARS to the Internet Protocol Suite for CPDLC while minimizing operational impact, ensuring avionics interoperability, improving performance monitoring, reducing outages, and strengthening cyber security. Industry input is also requested on cost control, competition strategies, and emerging air/ground technologies that could improve efficiency or reduce lifecycle costs over a five- to seven-year performance period.

Responses are due by 5 Sept. 2025. The primary point of contact for this information solicitation is Pearl Winston, who can be emailed at [email protected]. The FAA anticipates a formal solicitation in fiscal year 2027. More information, including technical details, is available at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/37e53efdabc64796b3c71a59c3e9043b/view