Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 23150; Flight Crew Type 4633
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Human Factors
Slightly late Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) logon. Shortly after passing the coast out fix DOGAL on an RLAT shoulder NAT track we realized CPDLC was not logged on with EGGX. We logged on successfully as soon as it was realized. Shanwick later asked us for our DOGAL position report on the HF which was given. After passing 20W we confirmed that Shanwick had received our 20W position report via CPDLC which they did.Contributing factors. CPDLC normally transfers automatically from sector to sector. CPDLC did not auto transfer after logging on with EDYY. Also Shannon ATC was looking for a lost comm aircraft for quite some time which was distracting. A CPDLC check box would be useful on the Class II nav checklist in the FM and also on the flight plan.
DOGAL was the designated coast out fix. We were cleared RLAT shoulder track; F360 mach .84. We passed DOGAL and realized that CPDLC was not logged on. We logged on with EGGX. Shanwick made a cell call request for a position report for position DOGAL. The report was sent. We contacted Shanwick to confirm a position report at 20W. The report was received by Shanwick. No further action was necessary. CPDLC continued to work throughout the flight.
B777 Captain reported failure of Controller Pilot Data Link Communication to log on with EGGX from EDYY during coast out. The log on was accomplished manually but not in time to send the position report for the coast out fix. EGGX made contact on HF to get the missing report.