RVSM Aircraft Certification

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RVSM Aircraft Certification

• April 15, 2004
• Happy Tax Day!

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Aircraft Certification Actions

• Manufacturers and Approved Design Organizations
  use part 91 Appendix G and supporting 91-RVSM
  guidance to
• Gain Aircraft Certification Office approval of
  RVSM Data Package containing data and analysis
  justifying RVSM Airworthiness Approval for group
  and non-group aircraft
• Gain ACO approval, for in-service aircraft, of
  SB, SL or STC to be applied by operators to bring
  aircraft into RVSM compliance (i.e., required
  inspections and/or modifications)
• Gain ACO approval, for new-build aircraft, of
  statements of eligibility in Airplane Flight
  Manual and/or Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS)

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Summary of Aircraft Approval Requirements

• Aircraft may be approved to RVSM requirements as
• Group aircraft or Non-group aircraft
• Aircraft must meet minimum aircraft equipage
  requirements of Appendix G and
• Required aircraft systems must meet Appendix G,
  Section 2 performance tolerances
• Continued airworthiness instructions must be
  provided, if found to be necessary

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Multiple Documents

• In some cases multiple documents are required
• B-757 Example
• SB 757-53-0074 (Fuselage- Section 43 Skin)
• SB 757-34-0132 (Navigation Air Data System
  ADC Replacement and Wire Changes
• 757-SL-02-016-C (Qualification of 757-200 and
  757-22PF Airplanes for RVSM
• Applicable Revisions Notice of Status Changes
• Operators are responsible for obtaining required
  documents from aircraft manufacturer or approved
  design organization and applying them
  appropriately

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Related Inspector Actions

• Flight Standards Inspectors will
• Make a determination of aircraft RVSM
  compliance and
• Ensure that Instructions for Continued
  Airworthiness (ICA) are incorporated into
  operator continued airworthiness programs by
  reference to applicable ACO approved documents
  (e.g., SB, SL, STC, AFM, TCDS )

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MONITORING PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS
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Monitoring Objectives

• Ground-based and GPS-based systems estimate Total
  Vertical Error, Altimetry System Error and
  Assigned Altitude Deviation
• In accordance with the Regional Monitoring
  Requirements Charts, each aircraft group used by
  the operator is sampled
• Monitoring results are used to identify and
  correct any adverse trends in aircraft
  altitude-keeping performance
• Monitoring also a major element of safety
  analysis and collision risk modeling

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Regulation and Guidance

• Part 91 Appendix G, Section 3 Validation and
  Demonstration. In a manner prescribed by the
  Administrator, operator must provide evidence
  that it is capable to operate
• 91-RVSM, para 11d(8) in its application for
  RVSM authority, operator must provide a plan for
  participation in the monitoring program

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RVSM Documentation Webpage

• Monitoring Requirements/Procedures Section
• Instructions for Using Minimum Monitoring Charts
  and Procedures from Different Regions
• Regional requirements vary. Use requirements
  chart in region where operator initially intends
  to operate
• Monitoring Procedures for US Operators
• North American RVSM Minimum Monitoring
  Requirements and requirements for other regions
• ICAO group working to harmonize regional
  requirements

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Monitoring Systems

• RVSM Monitoring Procedures for U.S. Operators
• Contact is US Operator/Aircraft RVSM Monitoring
  Coordinator
• GPS-based Monitoring System (GMS). Operator can
  arrange to fly portable GPS-based Monitoring
  Units (GMU)
• Height Monitoring Unit (HMU) ground-based units
  in UK, Canada and Europe
• Aircraft Geometric Height Measurement Element
  (AGHME)
• Starting in Sept 2003, FAA plans to deploy 3-5
  ground-based AGHME clusters in the U.S.

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Vertical Error Calculation Process
GMU, HMU
Determine Aircraft Geometric Height
TVE (Total Vertical Error)
AGHME
Meteorological Data
ASE (Altimetry System Error)
Determine Flight Level (FL) Height
Cleared FL (FIF)
AAD (Assigned Altitude Deviation)
Mode C Data
Compare Cleared FL to Actual Altitude
Cleared FL (FIF)
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Typical GMU Installation
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(No Transcript)
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Instructions on Monitoring Requirements Chart

• Participation in an approved monitoring program
  is required, however, monitoring not required
  prior to OpSpecs or LOA being issued
• Aircraft must be RVSM compliant prior to
  monitoring flight
• Monitoring results obtained in one region are
  valid in other regions
• Trailing Cone data obtained during STC flights
  counts if aircraft in its RVSM configuration
• Follow-on monitoring for Domestic RVSM will be
  coordinated after DRVSM implementation

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Conclusion

• RVSM Monitoring is a sampling program
• Provides a quality control check for aircraft
  type or group performance
• Provides valuable data for safety analysis

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Determination of Aircraft Compliance and
Continued Airworthiness Programs

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Regulation, Direction and Guidance

• 91.706, 91.180 (when published) and part 91
  Appendix G, Section 3 provide regulatory basis
  for
• Inspector determination of aircraft RVSM
  compliance
• Approved maintenance program requirements
• 8300.10, Vol 2, Chapter 5 provides instructions
  for determination of compliance and specific Mx
  Program elements and policy
• 91-RVSM paragraph 10 provides supporting guidance
  

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Inspector Guidance

• FAA Airworthiness Inspector Bulletin FSAW 97-14
  has inspector guidance
• FAA Order 8300.10, Airworthiness Inspectors
  Handbook
• Vol. 2, Chapter 5 replaces 97-14

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RVSM Documentation Webpage

• Aircraft compliance and Mx documents posted on
  RVSM Documentation Webpage include
• Inspector Guidance
• Example Maintenance Manuals
• GA/Business Aviation Aircraft Documents
• Large Transport Aircraft Documents
• FAQs
• RVSM Homepage www.faa.gov/ats/ato/rvsm1.htm

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8300.10 Determination of Aircraft Compliance

• PAI or PMI makes the determination of aircraft
  RVSM compliance
• For In-service Aircraft ensures that Service
  Bulletin, Service Letter, or STC required
  inspections and/or modifications have been
  performed and documented
• For In-production/New-production aircraft to
  ensure that
• aircraft is RVSM compliant, looks for statement
  in Airplane Flight Manual or Type Certificate
  Data Sheet

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8300.10 Determination of Aircraft Compliance

• Inspector lists airframes determined to be RVSM
  compliant in OpSpecs paragraph D092 or on LOA, as
  appropriate
• Inspector makes PTRS entry in accordance with
  inspector guidance
• PTRS codes see Inspector Guidance on RVSM
  Documentation webpage
• FAA Technical Center uses PTRS data to register
  airframes on US Operator/Aircraft RVSM Approvals
  Database

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Appendix G Regulatory Basis

• Approved RVSM Maintenance program must contain
• Periodic inspections, functional flight tests,
  maintenance and inspection procedures, acceptable
  maintenance practices
• Quality assurance program for test equipment
• Procedures for returning noncompliant aircraft to
  service

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8300.10 Mx Program Elements

• The name or title of person responsible for RVSM
  maintenance control
• Method to ensure personnel performing maintenance
  are properly trained, qualified, and
  knowledgeable of specific system
• Ref 91-RVSM, Par. 10f (Mx Training Requirements)
• Aircraft geometric inspection technique
• Test equipment calibration/usage
• Any special documentation or procedures
• Method operator will use to notify crew if
  aircraft is restricted from RVSM operation

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8300.10 Mx Program Elements

• Method to ensure conformance to RVSM maintenance
  standards
• Use of calibrated and appropriate test equipment
• Quality assurance program for continued accuracy
  and reliability of test equipment
• Ref 91-RVSM 10g (Test Equipment)
• Standards- accuracy, calibration, use
• These requirements may be satisfied through the
  use of FAA Certified Repair Stations with
  appropriate programs but remain the
  responsibility of the operator

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8300.10 Mx Program Elements

• Method operator will use to return an aircraft to
  service after maintenance
• Ref 91-RVSM 10e (Mx Practices for Non-compliant
  Aircraft)
• Periodic inspections, functional flight tests,
  and maintenance and inspection procedures
• Next two slides show paragraph references in
  91-RVSM
• Elements of program may be listed in detail or
  described by reference to an acceptable program
  that is identified and controlled by revision or
  issue number.

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91-RVSM Mx and Inspection References

• 10b (Mx Program Approval Requirements)
• Include any maintenance requirements defined in
  approved RVSM Data Package
• 10c (Mx Document Requirements). Review
• Maintenance Manuals
• Structural Repair Manuals
• Standard Practices Manuals
• Illustrated Parts Catalogs
• Mx Schedule and MEL

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91-RVSM Mx and Inspection References

• 10d (Maintenance Practices)
• Equipment maintained IAW manufacturer
  instructions
• Modification or repair subject to design review
• Maintenance practices in critical area review
• BITE not acceptable for calibration or RTS
• Quick disconnects
• Airframe and static system IAW manufacturer
  instructions
• Skin waviness
• Existing maintenance requirements

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8300.10 Mx Program Elements

• Functional Flight Tests
• The need for functional flight tests may be
  limited to only after repairs or modifications
  that are deemed to warrant such testing

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8300.10 Mx Program Elements

• The maintenance requirements listed in
  Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICAs)
  for any RVSM component or modifications
• Any other maintenance requirement required to
  ensure continued compliance with RVSM
  requirements

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8300.10 Mx Program Policy

• Operators using the services of FAA part 145
  certified repair stations must include provisions
  to ensure their program requirements are met
• Operators that are not required to have approved
  maintenance programs need only develop and obtain
  approval of a RVSM maintenance program
• That program must be incorporated into the
  operators AAIP

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8300.10 Manual Requirements

• For operators under continued airworthiness
  program, separate RVSM manual or RVSM provisions
  incorporated into General Maintenance Manual are
  acceptable/preferred
• Inspection programs (AAIP or manufacturers
  recommended) do not qualify
• For Part 91, 135 (9 or less) and 125 operators,
  separate approved RVSM Maintenance Manual is
  acceptable method of documenting program

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8300.10 Program Approval

• Method of Approval
• Program elements inserted into an accepted
  program will have approval indicated for each
  element or group of elements
• Stand-alone manuals will have cover page
  statement and succeeding pages stamped or
  initialed
• Other approval controls may be used
• Ref 91-RVSM Para10a (General)
• Approved maintenance program
• Maintenance facilities

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Conclusion

• Continuous airworthiness programs are critical
  to acceptable aircraft altitude-keeping
  performance and to the overall safety of RVSM
  operations

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Conclusion

• Show Example of Maintenance Program
• Word Document

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Conclusion

• Domestic RVSM is a priority program in the
  National Airspace System Operational Evolution
  Plan (NAS OEP)
• Provides significant fuel savings and ATC
  benefits
• January 20, 2005 is the target date for
  implementation
• The RVSM Documentation page is intended to be a
  user friendly source of aircraft and operator
  approval information

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Conclusion

• June 1, 2003