Program Overview

1
Domestic U.S. Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum
(DRVSM)
Presentation 2

• Program Overview
• June 3, 2003

2
Overview

• Access to Information
• Proposed Program Objectives
• Background and Operational Experience
• Benefits and Costs
• Implementation Date Factors Considered
• Planned Rule Schedule

3
Access to Information

• FAA RVSM and DRVSM website
• www.faa.gov/ats/ato/rvsm1.htm
• Shows RVSM program status in airspace worldwide
• RVSM Documentation page contains
• RVSM Approval Checklist
• Documents necessary to RVSM authorization
• Manufacturer contacts
• Listing of RVSM compliance docs (e.g., SB, STC)

4
Rule Schedule

• May 10, 2002.NPRM published
• Aug 8, 2002NPRM comment period closed
• Feb 28, 2003..Supplemental NPRM published
• Apr 14, 2003...SNPRM comment period closed
• Administrator has signed Final Rule package and
  forwarded it to Dept. of Transportation
• NAS Operational Evolution Plan shows FAA
  commitment to Jan 20, 2005 implementation date
• Administrator will coordinate with DOT and OMB to
  expedite package

5
NPRM and SNPRM Comments

• NPRM and SNPRM comments are available for review
  on DOT docket site http//dms.dot.gov
• Simple Search on 12261

6
SNPRM Proposals

• Withdraw proposal to allow part 91 turbo-prop
  aircraft equipped with a single RVSM-compliant
  altimeter to operate in DRVSM airspace
• Add Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico High Offshore
  airspace to correct RVSM airspace designation
• Propose San Juan FIR to be RVSM airspace

7
Program Coordination

• Coordination started with industry in Dec 2000
• FAA/Industry meetings held Feb and May 2001
• High level FAA management visibility through
  Operational Evolution Plan (OEP) process

8
Proposed Program Objectives

• Implement RVSM between FL 290 - 410 in
• Lower 48 states
• Alaska
• Gulf of Mexico airspace---where FAA provides air
  traffic services
• San Juan FIR and Florida-San Juan airspace
• Jan 20, 2005 target date---better AIRAC
  (charting) date than Dec 2004

9
NAS Operational Evolution Plan

• www.faa.gov/programs/oep
• DRVSM is para ER-4 in NAS OEP
• Principle Office of Delivery (POD)
• Director, Flight Standards Service AFS-1

10
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum

• 1,000 ft vertical separation applied globally,
  including domestic US, up to FL 290 for past 40
  years
• Special provisions of RVSM program enable
  reduction of vertical separation from 2,000 ft to
  
• 1,000 ft. between FL 290 - FL 410 (inclusive)

11
Major Program Elements

• Aircraft and operators authorized by
  Administrator or for
• non-US operators/aircraft, the appropriate
  foreign authority
• Aircraft altimetry, auto-pilot, altitude alert
  systems modified, as necessary, to RVSM standards
• RVSM policy/procedures incorporated into
  controller, pilot and dispatch programs
• Air Traffic systems and programs revised

12
Program Elements (cont.)

• Monitoring aircraft altitude-keeping observed
  to confirm aircraft operating to standards
• Ground and airborne monitoring systems used to
  independently monitor aircraft performance
• Safety Analysis based on accepted Collision
  Risk Modeling practices

13
RVSM Mandate

• When RVSM airspace implemented, RVSM
  authorization required for operation in
  designated airspace, with limited exceptions

14
RVSM Implemented PlannedAs of April 2003
Canada North 4/02
Canada South 1/05
Europe 1/02
Domestic US 1/05
NAT 3/97
Mid East 11/03
Pacific 2/00
Pacific 2/00
EUR/SAM Corridor 1/02
WATRS 11/01
Western Pacific South China Sea 2/02
Asia/Europe South of Himalayas 11/ 03
CAR/SAM 2005
Australia 11/01
Western Pacific/South China Sea February
2002 Implementation
Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Kota
Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Phnom Penh,
Sanya, Singapore, Taipei October 2002
Implementation
Hanoi, Hong Kong, Jakarta,
Ujung Pandang, Vientiane
Implemented
Planned
V. 6.8 5-23-02
15
Safety and Benefits in Operations

• RVSM has proved safe and beneficial in areas
  where previously implemented
• Approx 6.5 million RVSM flights
• Approx 14.5 million RVSM flight hours

16
FAA Continuity

• FAA specialists and supporting contractors have
  played significant roles in national and
  international program development and
  implementation
• Air Traffic
• Operations
• Certification
• Safety Analysis

17
Current RVSM Regulations

• Part 91, Section 91.706 requires operator and
  aircraft approval per Appendix G
• Appendix G (RVSM Operations) detailed
  aircraft/operator approval criteria
• Aircraft compliant with Appendix G are eligible
  for RVSM operations world-wide
• However, operators must adopt operational
  policy/procedures in each new area of operations

18
Aircraft Equipage forRVSM Operations

• !! Aircraft systems listed below must meet
  tolerances shown on next slide
• Two Independent Altimetry Systems
• One Automatic Altitude Control System
• One Altitude Alert System
• Transponder required by 91.215 for US operations
• ICAO transponder standards in Annex 6

19
Equipment Tolerances

• Altitude Alert Threshold 300 ft
• Aircraft type certified after April 9, 1997
  200 ft
• Automatic Altitude Control System 65 ft about
  acquired altitude
• Aircraft certified prior to April 9, 1997 soft
  altitude hold
• /- 130ft allowed

20
TCAS Version 7.0

• Part 91 Appendix G, Section 2 amended in 2001 to
  read
• After March 31, 2002, unless otherwise
  authorized by the Administrator, if you operate
  an aircraft that is equipped with TCAS II in RVSM
  airspace, it must be a TCAS II that meets TSO
  C-119b (Version 7.0), or a later version.

21
Proposed Rule Changes

• New 91.180 add to Sub-part B to make Appendix
  G applicable in domestic US, Alaska and Gulf of
  Mexico
• Appendix G Section 8, Designation of Airspace
  list continental US, Alaska, Gulf of Mexico,
  Offshore High and San Juan FIR in Section 8.
• Effective dates and FLs not shown in rule
  language
• When finalized, will be announced in NOTAMS and
  AIM

22
Proposed Rule Changes

• Revise flight levels listed in 91.159 and 91.179

23
Benefits 2005 - 2016

• Adds 6 additional FLs between 290 - 410
• Fuel Savings and Operating Efficiency Benefits
  2005 2016
• 5.3 billion
• 6/1 benefit/cost ratio
• 393m. first year savings---with 2.0 annual
  increase
• Steve Creamer will brief ATC benefits in detail
• ATC Flexibility
• Mitigate conflict points
• Enhance sector throughput
• Reduce controller workloade.g., reduce vectoring

24
Costs 2002 - 2016

• 869 million costs
• Aircraft/operator approval
• Downtime if work not accomplished during
  scheduled Mx
• If TCAS II equipped, Version 7.0 upgrade
• Monitoring
• Air traffic system modification and controller
  training costs
• Cost assessment being updated based on NPRM
  comments

25
Airspace Use by Category

• 88.commercial flights
• 10.general aviation flights
• 2..military flights

26
Implementation Date Factors

• 4,500 aircraft (33) already approved
• New airframes now delivered RVSM ready
• Project 90 of flights to be conducted by RVSM
  approved aircraft by January 2005 timeframe
• 393 m. first year fuel savings and ATC benefits
  at stake
• Aircraft Engineering Packages available for most
  aircraft
• Non-group/unique airframe process available

27
Date Factors (cont).

• New aircraft engineering solutions available
• Unapproved aircraft have options to
• Operate at FL 280 and below (fuel burn penalty,
  but relatively short duration flights)
• If capable, climb through RVSM FLs to operate at
  FL 430 and above
• Economic decision for some operators
• Unapproved Life guard and DoD aircraft to be
  accommodated

28
Operator/airframe factors

• Approx 13,500 DRVSM aircraft
• 4,500 (33) of US registered aircraft now RVSM
  approved
• 2,000 GA 2,500 commercial aircraft
• Approx 9,000 aircraft to be brought into
  compliance
• Key implementation factor is 90 RVSM
  compliant aircraft flights projected for 1/2005
  timeframe

29
Conclusion

• DRVSM is a significant project in the NAS OEP
• Has proven safe and beneficial in other major
  areas around the world