EasyCPDLC – Modernized

A modernized and visually refreshed fork of EasyCPDLC, the lightweight CPDLC client for pilots flying on VATSIM via the Hoppie ACARS network.

This fork updates EasyCPDLC for .NET 10 and adds a cockpit-style DCDU interface, Airbus/Boeing visual styles, smarter flight-plan handling, ATIS/METAR quick actions, callsign-change protection, MSFS/Flow Pro support, and many day-to-day workflow improvements for online flying.

Index

Screenshots
What is EasyCPDLC?
What changed in this fork?
Features
Main DCDU overview
Flight plan reload workflow
Callsign mismatch handling
Flight phase and next-flight detection
Quick Actions, ATIS and METAR
PDC / DCL and REQ CLR
CPDLC LOGON discovery
Clearance workflow and auto-confirm
Status indicators
Smart message handling
MSFS / Flow Pro integration
Flow Pro setup
Free text cooldown
Message filtering
System tray and window behavior
Requirements
Installation
First start
Short release changelog
Project status
Credits
Disclaimer
License

Screenshots

Login	Airbus-Style	Boeing-Style	A220-Style

What is EasyCPDLC?

EasyCPDLC is a standalone CPDLC client for flight simulation. It allows pilots to use CPDLC-style communication with compatible ATC stations on VATSIM without needing an aircraft that has native CPDLC support.

The client connects using your:

Hoppie logon code
VATSIM CID

After connecting, EasyCPDLC can be used for common datalink workflows such as ATC logon, clearance requests, TELEX-style messages, METAR/ATIS requests, and CPDLC communication during online flights.

What changed in this fork?

This fork focuses on modernization, compatibility, cockpit-style visuals, and smoother simulator workflow.

Highlights

Updated for .NET 10
Refreshed login screen and connection flow
Redesigned DCDU-style main interface
Airbus-inspired and Boeing-inspired display styles
Main page with aligned STATUS, CALLSIGN, ROUTE, and FP PHASE
Route display below the callsign, including ROUTE: ---- when no route is loaded
Smart status badges for CLR, PDC, ATIS, ATIS auto refresh, and Quick Actions
Click-only PDC / REQ CLR action to avoid accidental hover popups
PDC/DCL controller-info parsing for formats such as DCL: XXXX and PDC/DCL: XXXX
Click-only CPDLC LOGON candidate popup using Hoppie online status, FIR geolocation, nearby FIR buffering, and DEP/ARR APP station matching
Flight-plan reload workflow for multi-leg flying and callsign changes
VATSIM prefile support for loading the next route before the new callsign is live
Callsign mismatch protection so Hoppie keeps the old callsign until VATSIM confirms the new one
Manual callsign refresh icon next to the callsign during mismatch
Automatic VATSIM pilot refresh while connected
Route flash indication when RLD FP loads a different route
Quick Actions popup for METAR/ATIS departure/arrival requests
Smarter ATIS/METAR station targeting after departure and after landing
Flow Pro integration for opening EasyCPDLC from inside MSFS
Tray integration, hide/show support, and no-activate main window behavior
Less noisy system messages during normal operation

Features

Connect to the Hoppie ACARS network
Use your VATSIM CID for flight/session lookup
Log on to CPDLC-equipped ATC stations
Send and receive CPDLC messages
TELEX-style messaging support
Datalink clearance workflow support
PDC/DCL availability detection from controller information
Click-only REQ CLR quick action when PDC/DCL is confirmed available
Click-only CPDLC LOGON candidate popup with FIR/APP-based discovery
Clearance auto-confirm fallback when no final CLRC confirmation is sent
METAR and ATIS request support
Quick Actions for departure/arrival METAR and ATIS requests
Smart ATIS/METAR message summaries
Lightweight standalone desktop client
Cockpit-style DCDU interface skins
Airbus-style and Boeing-style display options
Message filtering by type
Unread message highlighting and reminder sound
Weather message cache
Exportable message log
Optional MSFS Flow Pro shortcut support
System tray support with Show / Hide / Exit
Main close confirmation
Flight plan reload button for new VATSIM flight plans or callsign changes
Automatic callsign mismatch warning and dedicated warning sound
Manual callsign mismatch re-check button
Automatic route display and route-change blink
Automatic flight phase detection using live VATSIM data

Main DCDU overview

The main DCDU page now shows the most important flight/session information directly in the top area:

STATUS:   CONNECTED
CALLSIGN: RYR1234
ROUTE:    EICK-EGPH
FP PHASE: 🛫 DEP

If no route is available, the route line remains visible and shows:

ROUTE:    ----

The main page also contains compact badges for:

CLR
PDC
ATIS
ATIS auto refresh
Quick Actions

The Airbus and Boeing layouts are individually tuned so the top rows, message header, and buttons align with the selected panel style.

Flight plan reload workflow

EasyCPDLC includes a RLD FP button for reloading current VATSIM flight data.

Use RLD FP when:

you have landed and continue with another leg
you filed a new VATSIM flight plan
your callsign changed
your departure/arrival airport changed
EasyCPDLC still shows data from the previous flight

The reload workflow fetches data from:

https://data.vatsim.net/v3/vatsim-data.json

It checks both:

your active VATSIM pilot entry
your latest VATSIM prefile for the same CID

If a different route is loaded, the ROUTE line blinks orange five times.

The RLD FP action reloads:

VATSIM pilot data
current active callsign
latest VATSIM prefile if applicable
filed VATSIM flight plan
departure and arrival airport
SimBrief navlog data, if configured
report fixes
ATIS/PDC target logic

It also resets:

current ATS unit
clearance state
PDC state
ATIS state
cached ATIS/PDC data
arrival reminder state
next-flight detection state

Successful reloads are intentionally silent to avoid cluttering the message list. Errors and callsign mismatch warnings are still shown.

Callsign mismatch handling

EasyCPDLC is designed to handle the common VATSIM multi-leg situation where a new flight plan is already prefiled, but the pilot is still online with the previous callsign.

Example:

Online on VATSIM: RYR41WM
New prefile:      RYR156P

In this case EasyCPDLC does not immediately change the active Hoppie callsign.

Instead:

Hoppie remains on the old active callsign
the new route can already be loaded from the prefile
the callsign on the main page turns red
a callsign mismatch system message is shown
a dedicated mismatch warning sound can play
a small refresh icon appears next to the callsign

The refresh icon:

↻

forces an immediate VATSIM callsign check.

If VATSIM still reports the old callsign, nothing changes.
If VATSIM now reports the new callsign, EasyCPDLC automatically switches Hoppie to the new callsign, resets the current ATS unit, and requires a new CPDLC logon.

EasyCPDLC also checks VATSIM automatically while connected, so the manual icon is optional.

Note: the manual icon forces EasyCPDLC to check the current VATSIM JSON immediately. It cannot force VATSIM itself to publish the new callsign sooner.

Flight phase and next-flight detection

EasyCPDLC tracks a simple flight phase on the main page.

Possible states include:

○ STBY
🛫 DEP
✈ AIRBORN
🛬 ARR
🧳 LND
🆕 NEXT FP

While connected, EasyCPDLC refreshes the pilot data from VATSIM automatically and updates the phase without requiring user interaction.

Current flight-phase logic:

<= 3000 ft       DEP / LND
> 3000 ft        AIRBORN
>= 20000 ft      enroute marker set
< 20000 ft after enroute  ARR
<= 3000 ft after ARR      LND

The phase logic is used for:

departure/arrival weather targeting
PDC/ATIS station targeting
arrival reminder behavior
next flight plan detection

After landing, EasyCPDLC can detect that a new flight plan has been filed and offer a reload prompt. Detection begins shortly after landing and continues periodically while relevant.

Quick Actions, ATIS and METAR

The lightning badge opens Quick Actions.

Quick Actions can request:

departure METAR
arrival METAR
departure ATIS
arrival ATIS

Quick Actions are only clickable when EasyCPDLC is CONNECTED. In standby or disconnected state, the popup does not open.

The weather target logic is aware of the loaded flight plan:

before departure, departure airport is preferred
after becoming airborne, arrival airport is preferred
after landing, arrival airport remains preferred until RLD FP loads the next flight

If a new route is loaded with RLD FP, the TELEX and Quick Actions weather targets update to the new route.

ATIS station selection can prefer:

departure ATIS variants for departure requests
arrival ATIS variants for arrival requests
generic station names when needed

PDC / DCL and REQ CLR

The PDC badge indicates whether a departure clearance service appears to be available for the relevant airport.

EasyCPDLC checks:

direct Hoppie station availability for the airport code
local VATSIM controllers such as XXXX_DEL, XXXX_GND, XXXX_TWR, and XXXX_APP
controller ATIS/info lines for PDC or DCL logon information
Hoppie online status for the detected logon code

Supported controller-info formats include:

DCL: XXXX
DCL LOGON XXXX
DCL LOGON CODE XXXX
PDC/DCL: XXXX
XXXX DCL
PREDEP CLEARANCE ... XXXX
DEPARTURE CLEARANCE ... XXXX
DATALINK CLEARANCE ... XXXX

When PDC/DCL is confirmed available, the PDC badge turns green.

The REQ CLR action is click-only:

Click the PDC badge.
If PDC/DCL is confirmed available, REQ CLR appears.
Click REQ CLR to send a pre-departure clearance request using the detected logon code.

Mouseover does not open REQ CLR anymore. This prevents the action from disappearing while the user is trying to select it.

REQ CLR is only offered when PDC/DCL is confirmed available. If the PDC badge is not green, clicking it does not send anything.

CPDLC LOGON discovery

The CPDLC LOGON helper is shown via the 📡 icon next to the current ATS unit.

The LOGON menu is click-only:

Click the 📡 icon.
EasyCPDLC shows available LOGON TO XXXX candidates.
Click a candidate to send the CPDLC logon request.

Mouseover does not open the menu anymore.

EasyCPDLC only shows LOGON candidates when the detected station is online on Hoppie. Candidate discovery can use:

current FIR geolocation from VATSIM FIR boundary data
a nearby FIR buffer near FIR boundaries
DEP/ARR-related APP stations
controller ATIS/info lines that mention CPDLC, Hoppie, logon, PDC, or DCL information

The FIR/nearby logic is intended as a helper. If a candidate is marked as possible or nearby, pilots should still verify the correct logon with ATC.

Clearance workflow and auto-confirm

The CLR badge tracks the clearance workflow.

Typical states:

neutral / standby
request sent
clearance received
pilot acknowledged
clearance accepted / confirmed
rejected / unable

Some PDC/DCL stations do not send a final CLRC CONFIRMED message after the pilot sends WILCO or an equivalent acknowledgement.

To avoid leaving the clearance state stuck without a green confirmation, EasyCPDLC starts a 3-minute auto-confirm timer after:

WILCO
AFFIRMATIVE
ROGER
ACCEPT

If no final clearance confirmation and no rejection arrives within 3 minutes, EasyCPDLC sets:

CLR ACC AUTO

This turns the CLR state green. The original clearance text remains visible, and the CLR popup adds:

AUTO CONFIRMED AFTER 3 MIN WITHOUT CLRC CONFIRMED

If a real confirmation, rejection, unable, or denied message arrives before the timer expires, the timer is cancelled and the real network/controller result is used.

Status indicators

The main DCDU page includes compact status indicators below the current ATC unit area.

CLR

The CLR indicator shows the current clearance state:

white = neutral / no active clearance state
orange = requested / standby / waiting
green = received, accepted, or auto-confirmed
red = rejected / unable / denied

The CLR popup now uses the same footprint as the ATIS popup for a consistent layout.

PDC

The PDC indicator shows whether a matching Hoppie PDC/DCL station appears to be available:

white = unknown / not checked yet
green = confirmed available and Hoppie-online
orange = possible fallback candidate
red = offline / unavailable

PDC/DCL detection can parse controller information lines such as DCL: XXXX, DCL LOGON XXXX, or PDC/DCL: XXXX.

REQ CLR is opened only by clicking the PDC badge and is only offered when the PDC state is confirmed green.

ATIS

The ATIS indicator shows whether ATIS data is available for the currently relevant airport.

before departure: departure airport
airborne / after departure: arrival airport
after landing: arrival airport until RLD FP is used

ATIS auto refresh

ATIS auto refresh can monitor the active ATIS target and update the state without repeatedly adding unnecessary system messages.

Smart message handling

The modernized message overview improves readability by converting common datalink responses into shorter cockpit-style summaries.

Examples:

REQUESTING ATIS FOR LOWW
LOWW ATIS E RECEIVED QNH 1012 RWY 29
REQUESTING METAR FOR LOWW
LOWW METAR RECEIVED QNH 1012 WIND 290/08 RWY 29
ATIS NOT AVAILABLE
VATSIM CALLSIGN MISMATCH
NEW FP DETECTED
AUTO CONFIRMED AFTER 3 MIN WITHOUT CLRC CONFIRMED

ATIS responses try to detect the current ATIS information letter and display it directly in the message list.

Unread messages are highlighted and can trigger a reminder sound.

MSFS / Flow Pro integration

EasyCPDLC can be opened from inside Microsoft Flight Simulator using Parallel 42 Flow Pro.

The application registers a Windows URI protocol:

easycpdlc://show

When this URI is called, EasyCPDLC brings its already running window back to the front. This allows you to open the CPDLC client from inside MSFS without going back to the desktop.

There is also an optional toggle URI:

easycpdlc://toggle

For normal use, easycpdlc://show is recommended.

Notes

This works best with MSFS in borderless/windowed fullscreen.
In exclusive fullscreen, Windows may still show the taskbar or change focus behavior.
EasyCPDLC uses a tray icon so it can run in the background without a normal taskbar button.
If the URI does not work, start EasyCPDLC once normally first. The URI protocol is registered on application start.

Flow Pro setup

To create a Flow Pro button that opens EasyCPDLC:

Start EasyCPDLC once normally.
Confirm that this works in Windows:
- Press Win + R
- Enter:
```
easycpdlc://show
```
- EasyCPDLC should appear.
Open MSFS.
Open the Flow Pro wheel editor.
Add a Custom Script Widget.
Open the widget editor.
Paste this JavaScript code:

run(() => {
    this.$api.command.open_browser("easycpdlc://toggle");
    return 250;
});

info(() => {
    return "Toggle EasyCPDLC";
});

Free text cooldown

To reduce accidental or excessive free-text usage, free-text messages use a cooldown system.

By default, free text can only be sent once every 5 minutes.

If free text is attempted too early, EasyCPDLC shows a system message such as:

FREE TEXT AVAILABLE IN 04:32

METAR and ATIS requests are not affected by this cooldown.

Message filtering

The message overview can be filtered by message type.

Available filters include:

ALL
NEW
ATIS
METAR
CPDLC
TELEX
SYSTEM

This makes it easier to keep the DCDU overview readable during busy flights.

System tray and window behavior

EasyCPDLC supports a system tray icon with:

Show
Hide
Exit

The main window can be brought back from the tray or via the Flow Pro URI.

The main DCDU window is designed to appear without stealing focus from MSFS where possible. Child windows such as ATC, TELEX, settings, and request windows remain focusable.

Closing the main window asks for confirmation to avoid accidental shutdown.

Requirements

Windows
.NET 10 Desktop Runtime
VATSIM account and CID
Hoppie ACARS logon code
Active internet connection
Optional: SimBrief Pilot ID for navlog/report-fix integration
Optional: Parallel 42 Flow Pro for MSFS cockpit shortcut integration

Note: the .NET Desktop Runtime may already be included in packaged builds, depending on the release.

Installation

Download a release

Download the latest release from the repository's Releases page.
Extract the ZIP file to a folder of your choice.
Start EasyCPDLC.exe.
Enter your Hoppie logon code and VATSIM CID.
Click Connect.

First start

Open EasyCPDLC.
Enter your Hoppie logon code.
Enter your VATSIM CID.
Enable Remember Me if you want the client to save your login details locally.
Press Connect.
Use the DCDU panel to access CPDLC, TELEX, ATC, and setup functions.
On the setup page, choose between Boeing and Airbus style.
Add your SimBrief Pilot ID if you want SimBrief navlog integration.
Optional: create a Flow Pro widget using the Flow Pro setup section.

Short release changelog

Added modern Airbus/Boeing DCDU main layout with aligned status, callsign, route, and flight phase.
Flight phase now switches to ARR below FL200 after enroute detection.
Added RLD FP workflow for VATSIM active flight plans, prefiles, new routes, and callsign changes.
Added callsign mismatch protection with red callsign, warning sound, automatic refresh, and manual refresh icon.
Added route display and orange route blink when a different route is loaded.
Added Quick Actions for departure/arrival METAR and ATIS requests.
Added click-only PDC / REQ CLR action with PDC/DCL logon parsing from controller info.
Added click-only CPDLC LOGON popup with Hoppie-online validation, FIR geolocation, nearby FIR buffer, and DEP/ARR APP matching.
Added CLR auto-confirm after 3 minutes when no final CLRC confirmation is sent.
Made CLR popup match ATIS popup size.
Improved ATIS status priority so VATSIM ATIS can override stale negative Hoppie/VATATIS responses.
Improved ATIS/METAR message filtering and aligned the message filter dropdown with MESSAGES / DATA.
Added NEW FP prompt cleanup after RLD FP / IGNORE and alert sound for new flight-plan detection.
Improved inbound flat TELEX parsing.
Added Flow Pro URI support, tray show/hide behavior, and safer close confirmation.
Reduced noisy system messages during successful reload and auto-refresh operations.

Project status

This is a community-maintained modernization fork. The main goals are:

keeping EasyCPDLC compatible with modern .NET versions
improving the user interface
making CPDLC more comfortable for day-to-day VATSIM flying
improving MSFS cockpit workflow with Flow Pro and tray integration
improving multi-leg and callsign-change workflows

Credits

Original project:

This project is based on the original EasyCPDLC project by quassbutreally:
https://github.com/quassbutreally/EasyCPDLC

Thanks to the VATSIM and Hoppie communities for making realistic datalink simulation possible for online pilots.

Disclaimer

EasyCPDLC is a third-party community tool for flight simulation. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to VATSIM, Hoppie, aircraft manufacturers, or real-world aviation authorities.

This software is provided as is, without warranty of any kind, express or implied.

The authors and contributors are not responsible or liable for any damages, data loss, connection issues, network disruptions, incorrect messages, missed ATC instructions, software crashes, simulator issues, or any other problems resulting from the use or inability to use this software.

This project is intended for flight simulation use only.

It must not be used for real-world aviation, real-world communication, real-world navigation, operational flight planning, or any safety-critical purpose.

Use this software at your own risk.

This project is an unofficial community modification/fork and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially supported by VATSIM, the Hoppie ACARS network, or the original EasyCPDLC author.

License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later.

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
EasyCPDLC		EasyCPDLC
assets/screenshots		assets/screenshots
.gitattributes		.gitattributes
.gitignore		.gitignore
EasyCPDLC.sln		EasyCPDLC.sln
FlowPro Custom Script		FlowPro Custom Script
README.md		README.md

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