Issued: July 2015
ATA 34 – Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum
RVSM Capable
In 2005, Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) became a requirement for aircraft operating in the airspace from Flight Level 290 to Flight Level 410 in the United States. Currently, RVSM airspace can be found all over the world. Aircraft operators operating U.S. registered aircraft are required to have authorization from the FAA in order to make use of RVSM airspace.
Operators wanting to make use of RVSM airspace have been required to show the FAA that:
1. The aircraft they are operating is RVSM certified.
2. Their aircrew meets the applicable RVSM-Knowledgeable Pilot requirements.
3. Operators must have an RVSM Maintenance Program approved by the FAA.
A few attempts have been made to help smooth the RVSM authorization process; the most well-known being the 2014 revision of the FAA’s Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS). The focus of that revision was to streamline the current RVSM process, suggesting that operators be able to make use of prior approvals in order to gain a new RVSM authorization. (See FSIMS; 8900.1; Volume 4; Chapter 10; Section 1)
Now another change is under consideration – 14 CFR 91; Appendix G; Section 3 (Operator Authorization) currently requires operators to have an approved RVSM Maintenance Program, (one of the three requirements for the RVSM authorization listed above). A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) attempting to remove that requirement [was] open for comment until July 27, 2015.
The reason for the proposed changes is the General Aviation industry has successfully integrated RVSM into their daily operations. Some of the special treatment and attention that RVSM compliance caused in the past is no longer needed.
RVSM maintenance is common enough now that many older aircraft have been modified and are flying in RVSM airspace. Newly manufactured aircraft are RVSM capable as well, with the compliance integrated into Master Minimum Equipment Lists (MMEL’s), Maintenance Manuals, Illustrated Parts Catalogs, and any other applicable Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA).
If successful, adoption of the NPRM should ease the RVSM approval process currently placed on the FAA and aircraft operators alike. If the NPRM makes it through the process as currently envisioned, operators wanting an RVSM authorization would need to demonstrate that:
1. The aircraft they are operating is RVSM-Compliant.
2. Their aircrew meets the applicable RVSM-Knowledgeable Pilot requirements.
While the NPRM may ease the approval process, a few questions remain to be answered. For example, what happens to existing RVSM Programs? Also, operators currently seeking an RVSM authorization may wonder if the effort of putting together an RVSM Maintenance Program is worthwhile if it will no longer be required by the time it is reviewed by the FAA.
Currently, a lot of “what ifs” need to be addressed. The comment period ending July 27, 2015, is likely to have some effect on the RVSM authorization process going forward.
Pending the final outcome, it’s possible that getting your next RVSM authorization may be a smoother process than expected.
The above information is abbreviated for space purposes. For the entire communication,
go to www.beechcraft.com.
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