Regulation (EU) No 965/2012
Aircraft shall only be operated in designated airspace where a reduced vertical separation minimum of 300 m (1 000 ft) applies between flight level (FL) 290 and FL 410, inclusive, if the operator has been granted an approval by the competent authority to conduct such operations.
SPA.RVSM.105 RVSM operational approval
Regulation (EU) No 965/2012
To obtain an RVSM operational approval from the competent authority, the operator shall provide evidence that:
(a) the RVSM airworthiness approval has been obtained;
(b) procedures for monitoring and reporting height-keeping errors have been established;
(c) a training programme for the flight crew members involved in these operations has been established;
(d) operating procedures have been established specifying:
(1) the equipment to be carried, including its operating limitations and appropriate entries in the MEL;
(2) flight crew composition and experience requirements;
(3) flight planning;
(4) pre-flight procedures;
(5) procedures prior to RVSM airspace entry;
(6) in-flight procedures;
(7) post-flight procedures;
(8) incident reporting;
(9) specific regional operating procedures.
CONTENT OF OPERATOR RVSM APPLICATION
The following material should be made available to the competent authority, in sufficient time to permit evaluation, before the intended start of RVSM operations:
(a) Airworthiness documents
Documentation that shows that the aircraft has RVSM airworthiness approval. This should include an aircraft flight manual (AFM) amendment or supplement.
(b) Description of aircraft equipment
A description of the aircraft appropriate to operations in an RVSM environment.
(c) Training programmes, operating practices and procedures
The operator should submit training syllabi for initial and recurrent training programmes together with other relevant material. The material should show that the operating practices, procedures and training items, related to RVSM operations in airspace that requires State operational approval, are incorporated.
(d) Manuals and checklists
The appropriate manuals and checklists should be revised to include information/guidance on standard operating procedures. Manuals should contain a statement of the airspeeds, altitudes and weights considered in RVSM aircraft approval, including identification of any operating limitations or conditions established for that aircraft type. Manuals and checklists may need to be submitted for review by the competent authority as part of the application process.
(e) Past performance
Relevant operating history, where available, should be included in the application. The applicant should show that any required changes have been made in training, operating or maintenance practices to improve poor height-keeping performance.
(f) Minimum equipment list
Where applicable, a minimum equipment list (MEL), adapted from the master minimum equipment list (MMEL), should include items pertinent to operating in RVSM airspace.
(g) Plan for participation in verification/monitoring programmes
The operator should establish a plan for participation in any applicable verification/monitoring programme acceptable to the competent authority. This plan should include, as a minimum, a check on a sample of the operator's fleet by an regional monitoring agency (RMA)’s independent height-monitoring system.
(h) Continuing airworthiness
Aircraft maintenance programme and continuing airworthiness procedures in support of the RVSM operations.
OPERATING PROCEDURES
(a) Flight planning
(1) During flight planning the flight crew should pay particular attention to conditions that may affect operation in RVSM airspace. These include, but may not be limited to:
(i) verifying that the airframe is approved for RVSM operations;
(ii) reported and forecast weather on the route of flight;
(iii) minimum equipment requirements pertaining to height-keeping and alerting systems; and
(iv) any airframe or operating restriction related to RVSM operations.
(b) Pre-flight procedures
(1) The following actions should be accomplished during the pre-flight procedure:
(i) Review technical logs and forms to determine the condition of equipment required for flight in the RVSM airspace. Ensure that maintenance action has been taken to correct defects to required equipment.
(ii) During the external inspection of aircraft, particular attention should be paid to the condition of static sources and the condition of the fuselage skin near each static source and any other component that affects altimetry system accuracy. This check may be accomplished by a qualified and authorised person other than the pilot (e.g. a flight engineer or ground engineer).
(iii) Before take-off, the aircraft altimeters should be set to the QNH (atmospheric pressure at nautical height) of the airfield and should display a known altitude, within the limits specified in the aircraft operating manuals. The two primary altimeters should also agree within limits specified by the aircraft operating manual. An alternative procedure using QFE (atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation/runway threshold) may also be used. The maximum value of acceptable altimeter differences for these checks should not exceed 23 m (75 ft). Any required functioning checks of altitude indicating systems should be performed.
(iv) Before take-off, equipment required for flight in RVSM airspace should be operative and any indications of malfunction should be resolved.
(c) Prior to RVSM airspace entry
(1) The following equipment should be operating normally at entry into RVSM airspace:
(i) two primary altitude measurement systems. A cross-check between the primary altimeters should be made. A minimum of two will need to agree within ±60 m (±200 ft). Failure to meet this condition will require that the altimetry system be reported as defective and air traffic control (ATC) notified;
(ii) one automatic altitude-control system;
(iii) one altitude-alerting device; and
(iv) operating transponder.
(2) Should any of the required equipment fail prior to the aircraft entering RVSM airspace, the pilot should request a new clearance to avoid entering this airspace.
(d) In-flight procedures
(1) The following practices should be incorporated into flight crew training and procedures:
(i) Flight crew should comply with any aircraft operating restrictions, if required for the specific aircraft type, e.g. limits on indicated Mach number, given in the RVSM airworthiness approval.
(ii) Emphasis should be placed on promptly setting the sub-scale on all primary and standby altimeters to 1013.2 hPa / 29.92 in Hg when passing the transition altitude, and rechecking for proper altimeter setting when reaching the initial cleared flight level.
(iii) In level cruise it is essential that the aircraft is flown at the cleared flight level. This requires that particular care is taken to ensure that ATC clearances are fully understood and followed. The aircraft should not intentionally depart from cleared flight level without a positive clearance from ATC unless the crew are conducting contingency or emergency manoeuvres.
(iv) When changing levels, the aircraft should not be allowed to overshoot or undershoot the cleared flight level by more than 45 m (150 ft). If installed, the level off should be accomplished using the altitude capture feature of the automatic altitude-control system.
(v) An automatic altitude-control system should be operative and engaged during level cruise, except when circumstances such as the need to re-trim the aircraft or turbulence require disengagement. In any event, adherence to cruise altitude should be done by reference to one of the two primary altimeters. Following loss of the automatic height-keeping function, any consequential restrictions will need to be observed.
(vi) Ensure that the altitude-alerting system is operative.
(vii) At intervals of approximately 1 hour, cross-checks between the primary altimeters should be made. A minimum of two will need to agree within ±60 m (±200 ft). Failure to meet this condition will require that the altimetry system be reported as defective and ATC notified.
The usual scan of flight deck instruments should suffice for altimeter cross-checking on most flights.
(viii) In normal operations, the altimetry system being used to control the aircraft should be selected for the input to the altitude reporting transponder transmitting information to ATC.
(ix) If the pilot is notified by ATC of a deviation from an assigned altitude exceeding ±90 m (±300 ft) then the pilot should take action to return to cleared flight level as quickly as possible.
(2) Contingency procedures after entering RVSM airspace are as follows:
(i) The pilot should notify ATC of contingencies (equipment failures, weather) that affect the ability to maintain the cleared flight level and coordinate a plan of action appropriate to the airspace concerned. The pilot should obtain to the guidance on contingency procedures is contained in the relevant publications dealing with the airspace.
(ii) Examples of equipment failures that should be notified to ATC are:
(A) failure of all automatic altitude-control systems aboard the aircraft;
(B) loss of redundancy of altimetry systems;
(C) loss of thrust on an engine necessitating descent; or
(D) any other equipment failure affecting the ability to maintain cleared flight level.
(iii) The pilot should notify ATC when encountering greater than moderate turbulence.
(iv) If unable to notify ATC and obtain an ATC clearance prior to deviating from the cleared flight level, the pilot should follow any established contingency procedures for the region of operation and obtain ATC clearance as soon as possible.
(e) Post-flight procedures
(1) In making technical log entries against malfunctions in height-keeping systems, the pilot should provide sufficient detail to enable maintenance to effectively troubleshoot and repair the system. The pilot should detail the actual defect and the crew action taken to try to isolate and rectify the fault.
(2) The following information should be recorded when appropriate:
(i) primary and standby altimeter readings;
(ii) altitude selector setting;
(iii) subscale setting on altimeter;
(iv) autopilot used to control the aircraft and any differences when an alternative autopilot system was selected;
(v) differences in altimeter readings, if alternate static ports selected;
(vi) use of air data computer selector for fault diagnosis procedure; and
(vii) the transponder selected to provide altitude information to ATC and any difference noted when an alternative transponder was selected.
(f) Crew training
(1) The following items should also be included in flight crew training programmes:
(i) knowledge and understanding of standard ATC phraseology used in each area of operations;
(ii) importance of crew members cross-checking to ensure that ATC clearances are promptly and correctly complied with;
(iii) use and limitations in terms of accuracy of standby altimeters in contingencies. Where applicable, the pilot should review the application of static source error correction/position error correction through the use of correction cards; such correction data should be available on the flight deck;
(iv) problems of visual perception of other aircraft at 300 m (1 000 ft) planned separation during darkness, when encountering local phenomena such as northern lights, for opposite and same direction traffic, and during turns;
(v) characteristics of aircraft altitude capture systems that may lead to overshoots;
(vi) relationship between the aircraft's altimetry, automatic altitude control and transponder systems in normal and abnormal conditions; and
(vii) any airframe operating restrictions, if required for the specific aircraft group, related to RVSM airworthiness approval.
CONTINUING AIRWORTHINESS
(a) Maintenance programme
The aircraft maintenance programme should include the instructions for continuing airworthiness issued by the type certificate holder in relation to the RVSM operations certification in accordance with AMC1 ACNS.A.GEN.010.
(b) Continuing airworthiness procedures
The continuing airworthiness procedures should establish a process to:
(1) assess any modification or design change which in any way affects the RVSM approval;
(2) evaluate any repairs that may affect the integrity of the continuing RVSM approval, e.g. those affecting the alignment of pitot/static probes, repairs to dents, or deformation around static plates;
(3) ensure the proper maintenance of airframe geometry for proper surface contours and the mitigation of altimetry system error, surface measurements or skin waviness as specified in the instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), to ensure adherence to RVSM tolerances. These checks should be performed following repairs or alterations having an effect on airframe surface and airflow.
(c) Additional training may be necessary for continuing airworthiness and maintenance staff to support RVSM approval. Areas that may need to be highlighted for the initial and recurrent training of relevant personnel are:
(1) Aircraft geometric inspection techniques;
(2) Test equipment calibration and use of that equipment; and
(3) Any special instructions or procedures introduced for RVSM approval.
(d) Test equipment
The operator should ensure that maintenance organisations use test equipment adequate for maintenance of the RVSM systems. The adequacy of the test equipment should be established in accordance with the type certificate holder recommendations and taking into consideration the required test equipment accuracy and the test equipment calibration.
SPECIFIC REGIONAL PROCEDURES
(a) The areas of applicability (by Flight Information Region) of RVSM airspace in identified ICAO regions is contained in the relevant sections of ICAO Document 7030/4. In addition, these sections contain operating and contingency procedures unique to the regional airspace concerned, specific flight planning requirements and the approval requirements for aircraft in the designated region.
(b) Comprehensive guidance on operational matters for European RVSM airspace is contained in ICAO EUR Doc 009 entitled ‘Guidance material on the implementation of a 300 m (1 000 ft) vertical separation minimum in the European RVSM airspace’ with further material included in the relevant State aeronautical publications.
SPA.RVSM.110 RVSM equipment requirements
Regulation (EU) No 965/2012
Aircraft used for operations in RVSM airspace shall be equipped with:
(a) two independent altitude measurement systems;
(b) an altitude alerting system;
(c) an automatic altitude control system;
(d) a secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder with altitude reporting system that can be connected to the altitude measurement system in use for altitude control.
TWO INDEPENDENT ALTITUDE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
Each system should be composed of the following components:
(a) cross-coupled static source/system, with ice protection if located in areas subject to ice accretion;
(b) equipment for measuring static pressure sensed by the static source, converting it to pressure altitude and displaying the pressure altitude to the flight crew:
(c) equipment for providing a digitally encoded signal corresponding to the displayed pressure altitude, for automatic altitude reporting purposes;
(d) static source error correction (SSEC), if needed to meet the performance criteria for RVSM flight envelopes; and
(e) signals referenced to a flight crew selected altitude for automatic control and alerting. These signals will need to be derived from an altitude measurement system meeting the performance criteria for RVSM flight envelopes.
SPA.RVSM.115 RVSM height-keeping errors
Regulation (EU) No 965/2012
(a) The operator shall report recorded or communicated occurrences of height-keeping errors caused by malfunction of aircraft equipment or of operational nature, equal to or greater than:
(1) a total vertical error (TVE) of ± 90 m (± 300 ft);
(2) an altimetry system error (ASE) of ± 75 m (± 245 ft); and
(3) an assigned altitude deviation (AAD) of ± 90 m (± 300 ft).
(b) Reports of such occurrences shall be sent to the competent authority within 72 hours. Reports shall include an initial analysis of causal factors and measures taken to prevent repeat occurrences.
(c) When height-keeping errors are recorded or received, the operator shall take immediate action to rectify the conditions that caused the errors and provide follow-up reports, if requested by the competent authority.