NAT Data Link Mandate to be Reinstated Feb. 25

Feb. 16, 2021

The North Atlantic (NAT) Data Link Mandate, temporarily suspended in 2020 to provide a short-term accommodation of non-data link compliant aircraft, will be reinstated on Feb. 25, at which time all operators flying across the North Atlantic will be required to have data link installed and functional, with CPDLC and ADS-C to operate between FL290 and FL410.

Operations in the New York Oceanic Flight Information Region are not subject to this mandate, nor are Tango Routes T9 and T290.

The FAA and its partners in the North Atlantic Systems Planning Group endorsed a plan to temporarily terminate the NAT Data Link Mandate due to decreased operations as a result of the global COVID-19 crisis. The group recently voted to reinstate the NAT Data Link Mandate.

“The temporary suspension of the mandate facilitated the transportation of essential cargo across the Atlantic,” said Brian Koester, CAM, NBAA director of flight operations and regulations. “Ideally, the suspension would remain in effect until the threshold of 50% of traffic levels from 2019 was met, but NBAA appreciates the FAA and North Atlantic Systems Planning Group’s efforts to ease mandates during the pandemic.”

NBAA members are encouraged to tune in to the Regional Review: North Atlantic/North America session at the NBAA GO Flight Operations Conference at 11 a.m. (EST) Feb. 23 for more information.