Santa Maria FIR Radio Initial Voice Contact Trial

The Santa Maria FIR (LPPO) has initiated a trial for initial voice contact to Santa Maria Radio for flights using CPDLC. The trial is expected to reduce crew workload, as the responsibility to establish initial voice contact on HF is assigned to the radio operator — allowing better management of the air-ground communications sequence and priority, and avoiding simultaneous calls from different aircraft.

The trial runs through 30 November 2025; for complete details refer to Portugal AIC A 003/2025.

Upon entering Santa Maria FIR, if LPPO is established as CDA and CPDLC is operational, the flight crew should not initiate voice contact on HF, should wait to receive the HF frequency assignment via CPDLC, tune the radios accordingly, and expect a SELCAL call. Six minutes after crossing the FIR boundary with no assignment or SELCAL received, advise ATC via CPDLC.