Originally Posted by
Una Due Tfc
It would require entirely new hardware throughout the entire network as none of the current ACARS/FANS/ATN/CPDLC networks over VHF, HF or SATCOM are encrypted as A) it would be ruinously expensive to do so and B) the signals would be slowed by the encryption and have potentially negative consequences for Required Surveillance Performance and Required Communications Performance in the SATCOM environment in particular.
For that reason alone there’s going to be a need for someone on the flight deck to read datalink clearances before executing them for a long, long time.
You're making it too hard. Just use the same comms mechanism as now with a preformatted message, including a signature. Same as BABS did for years.
You don't need new hardware, "just" a software update and all the certification that goes with it!
Since a modern CPU can do an AES message in less than a microsecond and even a cheap 10 year old microcontroller can do it in the blink of an eye performance doesn't feel like an issue. Especially when the alternative is voice.