ATC Data Comm or CPDLC (Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications) has been used in airline ops for a while, but Garmin has been bringing the technology to its integrated avionics and to select aftermarket systems. CPDLC uses text messaging for ATC clearances and instructions at busier airports and in a growing number of ATC Center facilities.
The technology is a mystery of sorts, so as a follow-up to the CPDLC report in the November 2025 edition of Avionics News, contributing reporter Larry Anglisano flew with Garmin's CPDLC interface in the new Cirrus G3 Vision Jet, where it's a standard capability on the jet's PerspectiveTouch+ avionics system. Our thanks to Cirrus's Matt Bergwall for helping with the demo. To watch the video, click here.