[RockyMcNuts]

Maybe the future is structured electronic messaging with the humans in the loop.

Like, check in with the controller but most messages are sent electronically and acknowledged manually.

I have your clearance, advise when ready to copy, then you write everything down on kneeboard with a pencil and then manually put it in the navigation system, is a little archaic.

certainly speech to text is a useful transition but in the long run the controller could click on an aircraft and issue the next clearance with a keyboard shortcut. then the pilot would get a visual and auditory alert in the cockpit and click to acknowledge.

I would hope someone at NASA or DARPA or somewhere is working on it. And then of course the system can detect conflicts, an aircraft not following the clearance etc.

[kristian1109]

The problem with datalink systems is they are poor substitutes for immediate control & confirmation. My co-founder Eric wrote a short piece about this: https://www.ericbutton.co/p/speech. This is why they are mainly relegated to low-urgency en-route & clearance delivery.

[someguydave]

He’s write about the bandwidth and latency of voice, but the problem is that you can’t immediately know who should react to instructions. “GO AROUND IMMEDIATE!” - now all the pilots on frequency are wondering who’s the addressee

Also, AM voice on VHF is not full duplex and the blocking problem is very real and could be addressed potentially

[RockyMcNuts]

interesting! have PP but haven't flown really last couple of decades.

I feel like, with proper UX in the cockpit and on the controller console, making it easy to send/acknowledge the clearance, and intrusively demanding immediate acknowledgment for important messages, with the controller able to talk to the pilot if it isn't immediately acknowledged, structured messages would save time, be more accurate, allow automated checks, i.e. be a superior substitute.

UX needs a ton of work and human factors validation, and would take 20 years to implement. But if you were starting from a blank slate it seems like the way to go!

[EMM_386]

> Maybe the future is structured electronic messaging with the humans in the loop.

There already is: Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC).

Get an instruction, press to confirm.

At the moment, this is only used for certain types of things (clearances, frequency changes, speed assignments, etc.) along with voice ATC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller%E2%80%93pilot_data_...

[imadethis]

Look up CPLDC - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller%E2%80%93pilot_data_...

This is how big operations handle clearances today, complete with integration into the FMS. The pilot simply reviews the clearance and accepts it.

[noahnoahnoah]

This already exists and is used in much of the US and extensively in Europe for airlines. Look up Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC).

[fallingmeat]

also requires fairly expensive equipment (FMS with FANS support)