Lufthansa Flight Training Has New CPDLC Training Program

Lufthansa Flight Training (LFT) has developed a new interactive computer-based training (CBT) program to help pilots prepare to use CPDLC (controller-pilot datalink communications).

The CBT inexpensively simulates the aircraft's MCDU (multi-purpose control display unit) for CPDLC use while also conveying background knowledge of the entire system.  According to LFT, it can be adapted to any MCDU-equipped aircraft.

CPDLC is part of Eurocontrol's Link 2000+ plan that intends to replace many voice exchanges with text messages over a second communications channel between controllers and pilots.

Lufthansa's A320 pilots are already using the LFT program, which according to flight captain Karl-Hermann Brandes, the fleet's project leader, is an "essential part of our training."  07-30-2005.

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