RVSM SYMPOSIUM

1
Presentation 7
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS FOR THE RVSM APPROVAL PROCESS
February 3, 2004
2
Sequence of Events

• Reference Handout
• RVSM Approval Process Events - US Operators

3
Example Operator Applicationfor RVSM Authority

• Published on website RVSM Documentation page
• Under Documents Applicable to All RVSM
  Approvals
• Reviewing to enhance, as necessary

4
Operational Approval Documents

• For part 121, 125 and 135 operators
• Operations Specification paragraph B046
  (Operations in RVSM Airspace)
• OpSpecs paragraph D092 (Maintenance Program
  Authorization for Airplanes Used in RVSM
  Operations)
• For part 91 and part 125 operations under part
  91
• Letter of Authorization issued in accordance with
  N 8700.23 (8/20/03)

5
Sequence of Events for the Operator/Aircraft RVSM
Approval Process

• Operator Establishes Need to Obtain Approval to
  Conduct RVSM Operations
• Operator Contacts Aircraft Manufacturer or Design
  Organization
• Manufacturer advises operator on availability of
  RVSM compliance documents (e.g., Service
  Bulletin, Supplemental Type Certificate)
• Manufacturer advises operator whether aircraft is
  covered by group approval or is considered as a
  non-group aircraft

6
Sequence of Events for the Operator/Aircraft RVSM
Approval Process

• If aircraft manufacturer does not develop RVSM
  compliance documents or---if operator does not
  elect to use manufacturer services, then
• Operator contacts design organization (e.g.,
  Designated Airworthiness Station, Repair Station)
• Note see Aircraft Engineering Packages on RVSM
  website

7
Sequence of Events Pre-Application Meeting

• Operator contacts the appropriate Flight
  Standards field office to arrange a
  pre-application meeting to discuss requirements
  for approval
• See 91-RVSM paragraph 11c

8
Operator Actions

• Operator obtains appropriate RVSM airworthiness
  approval document (e.g., SB, STC)
• For In-service Aircraft
• Operator conducts inspections and/or aircraft
  modification as identified in airworthiness
  approval document (e.g., SB, STC)
• If required in RVSM airworthiness document,
  operator revises continued airworthiness program
  for aircraft type or group

9
Operator Actions (cont.)

• Operator develops RVSM Maintenance program
• Operator develops Pilot and, if applicable,
  Dispatch Practices/Procedures.

10
Operator Actions (cont.)

• Operational program references
• 91-RVSM paragraph 11
• Appendix 4
• If applicable, Appendix 5 (Oceanic operations)
• Area of Ops Specific Information on RVSM Docs
  webpage
• Notes
• Appendix 4 provides basic RVSM operational policy
  and procedures
• Publication of DRVSM policy/procedures will be
  discussed further in Pilot/Dispatch Policy
  briefing

11
Operator Actions (cont.)

• Operator develops plan for aircraft
  altitude-keeping performance monitoring
• Options for monitoring will be to over-fly ground
  based units or to use GPS-based Monitoring Units
• Monitoring completed for other areas of
  operations can be used for DRVSM monitoring
  purposes

12
Sequence of Events (cont.)

• Approximately 60 days in advance of start of
  operations, operator submits its application to
  AFS field office for operational approval
• 60 days relates to operational approval package
  review.
• Operators must plan for time required to bring
  aircraft into RVSM compliance e.g., time to
  develop STC for Non-group aircraft

13
Content of Application for Authority(Reference
Paragraph 11d)

• 1. Applicable RVSM Airworthiness Documents
• For In-Service aircraft SB, SL, STC and
  maintenance records showing completion of
  required work
• For New-production aircraft AFM or Type
  Certificate Data Sheet
• 2. Description of aircraft RVSM components and
  equipment
• 3. Operator training programs and operating
  practices and procedures
• See 11d(3)(ii) for Part 91 and Part 125 operators
  operating under Part 91
• 4. Operations manuals and checklists
• Part 91 Operations Manual discussed later in this
  brief

14
Application for Authority (cont.)

• 5. Past performance operating history
• 6. Minimum Equipment List (MEL) MMEL Policy
  Letter GC 59
• 7. Maintenance program
• Provisions for RVSM Maintenance covered in
  Continued Airworthiness brief
• 8. Plans for participation in monitoring
  programs
• 9. Plans for reporting altitude-keeping errors -
  Para 11i

15
Sequence of Events (cont.)

• FAA reviews application
• AFS field office registers RVSM approved
  airframes and operators on U.S. Operator/Aircraft
  RVSM Approvals Database by.
• Making entries on Program Tracking and Reporting
  Subsystem (PTRS) or faxing information directly
  to FAA Technical Center
• !!Use correct PTRS codes see RVSM Documentation
  Webpage, Docs Applicable to all RVSM Approvals
• Contact Wayne Smoot at FAA Technical Center for
  options/questions on database update
• Ph 609-485-5475 wayne.smoot_at_faa.gov

16
Sequence of Events (cont.)

• If required, FAA observes validation flight
• See 91-RVSM paragraph 11f
• When operator completes appropriate requirements,
  FAA grants OpSpecs or LOA, as applicable

17
New-to-the Operator Areas of Operations

• See Documents Applicable to All Approvals
• See RVSM Area New to the Operator
• RVSM compliant aircraft are eligible for
  world-wide operations, however...
• Operators must adopt and revise policy and
  procedures specific to new areas of operation

18
Form of Approval for New Area

• For OpSpecs holders, RVSM authority listed in
  OpSpecs B050 (Authorized Areas of Enroute
  Operations)
• For part 91 operators, initial authority for RVSM
  operations provided in Letters of Authorization
  (LOAs)
• LOAs are NOT issued for individual areas of
  operation including domestic RVSM

19
Operational Issues for New Areaof Operations

• RVSM floor, ceiling and horizontal boundaries
• Policy for exclusion or operation of unapproved
  aircraft.
• Flight planning policy
• Pilot Procedures
• In-flight contingencies
• Weather deviation
• Wake turbulence

20
New Area Issues (cont.)

• RVSM maintenance procedures at airports in new
  area
• Monitoring requirements
• RVSM approvals data base

21
Early Compliance

• Early aircraft RVSM compliance is desirable
• Part 121,125, 135 aircraft can be listed in D092
• For all aircraft, field offices will log aircraft
  airworthiness approval on US RVSM Approvals
  Database through AFS PTRS system or by fax
• For part 91, LOA for DRVSM operations can be
  issued using
• N 8700.23 format.
• Using PTRS, RVSM compliant aircraft can be listed
  on RVSM Approvals Database
• N8700.23 clarifies LOA actions for DRVSM

22
Part 91 Pilot Knowledge and Operations Documents

• Notice 8700.26 paragraph 9f provides FAA
  inspector guidance
• FAA inspector action is to accept pilot
  knowledge and operations documents

23
Options for Part 91 Pilot Knowledge

• FAA Inspectors may
• Accept part 142 training center certificates
  without further evaluation
• Accept certificates documenting completion of a
  course on RVSM policy/procedures
• Accept an operators in-house program
• Evaluate a training course prior to accepting a
  training certificate

24
Options for Part 91 Operations Documents or
Manuals

• FAA Inspectors may
• Accept operator stand-alone RVSM operations
  manual
• Accept documentation of operators RVSM
  operational policies/procedures as a section of
  the operators application for RVSM authority

25
Part 129 Non-US Operators

• 129.11 requires operations per ICAO Annex 6
  Standards
• International Programs/Policy (AFS-50) updating
  8400.10, Chapter 4
• Part 129 OpSpecs content/processing under
• AFS Hq discussion
• 129.14 calls for FAA approval of maintenance
  programs for foreign operators of US-registered
  aircraft used in common carriage

26
Conclusion

• Forward suggestions to improve RVSM Approvals
  Checklist to Robert Swain or Roy Grimes