Displaying controller-pilot data link communication (CPDLC) messages in a threaded format

A program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium on which program instructions configured to be executed by at least one processor are embodied, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the program instructions cause the at least one processor to:

• receive a CPDLC message for display on a user interface;
• determine whether the CPDLC message has a message reference number (MRN);
• if the CPDLC message does not have an MRN, display the CPDLC message in a first column and a first row in a panel body of the user interface if the CPDLC message is a downlink CPDLC message or in a second column and the first row in the panel body if the CPDLC message is an uplink CPDLC message;
• if the CPDLC message does have an MRN,
• identifying a prior CPDLC message having the MRN as a message identification number (MIN) for the prior CPDLC message;
• identifying whether the prior CPDLC message is in the first column or the second column;
• and
• displaying the CPDLC message in an opposite column from the prior CPDLC message in a row based on the MIN of the CPDLC message such that the position of the CPDLC message shows its relationship to the prior CPDLC message.

A system, comprising:

• at least one human-machine interface;
• at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one human-machine interface;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium on which a CPDLC interface application is stored, wherein the CPDLC interface instruction includes program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor and, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• receiving a CPDLC message for display on the at least one human-machine interface;
• determining whether the CPDLC message has a message reference number (MRN);
• if the CPDLC message does not have an MRN, displaying the CPDLC message in a first column and a first row in a panel body of the at least one human-machine interface if the CPDLC message is a downlink CPDLC message or in a second column and the first row in the panel body of the at least one human-machine interface if the CPDLC message is an uplink CPDLC message;
• if the CPDLC message does have an MRN,
• identifying a prior CPDLC message having the MRN as a message identification number (MIN) for the prior CPDLC message;
• identifying whether the prior CPDLC message is in the first column or the second column;
• and
• displaying the CPDLC message in an opposite column from the prior CPDLC message in a row based on the MIN of the CPDLC message such that the position of the CPDLC message shows its relationship to the prior CPDLC message.