Flight Departure Message (FDM) is used to notify CBP of the actual flight departure liftoff date and UTC time from the last foreign airport enroute to the United States.

When an aircraft leaves the last foreign airport before arriving in the US, the airline must submit a flight departure message to Customs. This alert allows CBP personnel to complete their security assessment of the information submitted by the airline, house level cargo details, and prepare for the arrival of the aircraft.