RVSM - What You Need to Know Before You Go
Do you have what it takes to fly up high? Are you RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums) authorized? Is your aircraft? In 2005 FAA introduced RVSM operations to open up more enroute capacity and give controllers and pilots more flexibility in cruising altitudes. As the name suggests RVSM reduces the vertical separation required between cruising altitudes from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet between Flight Levels (FL) 290-410 (29,000 feet – 41,000 feet). The only catch is that both the pilots and the aircraft must be authorized for RVSM operations.
The FAA has seen numerous instances of pilots requesting RVSM flight levels or cruising in RVSM airspace without required authorization and/or without using the proper phraseology and flight plan filing practices provided in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). In the first 15 days of November 2011, 35 Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations were filed incorrectly. These events indicate that not only are “non-RVSM” aircraft being filed as RVSM authorized, but also, authorized aircraft unable to conduct RVSM due to equipment malfunctions (operations in accordance with an MEL item) are being incorrectly filed as RVSM authorized. Flight plans are also being filed with an RVSM equipment/capability qualifier while simultaneously annotating a contradictory entry (e.g. NON-RVSM) in the “Remarks” section.
To address this issue FAA published a new Information for Operators (InFO) to provide guidance to those wishing to use RVSM airspace and to prevent future incidents from those who are not authorized. The FAA hope this InFO will help avoid potential enforcement actions and prevent possible safety issues.
For more information please see InFO 12001 at: http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2012/InFO12001.pdf
Any questions or comments may be addressed to Trent Bigler, Aviation Safety Inspector,
AFS-470 at (202) 385-4504.
