Reduced Vertical Separation Minina
RVSM is the use of a 1,000Ft. separation minima between RVSM approved aircraft
in airspace between FL290 and FL410 (inclusive). Traffic below FL290 will be
separated by a 1,000Ft. separation minima and above FL410 by a 2,000Ft. separation minima. State aircraft are permitted to operate in RVSM airspace,
even if the aircraft is not RVSM capable, subject to Controller workload. If
approved to operate in RVSM airspace, a 2,000Ft. separation minima shall be
applied between State aircraft and RVSM approved aircraft and other State
aircraft.
| Abbreviations and Definitions: |
| ACAS (TCAS) |
Airborne Collision Avoidance System |
| CVSM |
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Conventional Vertical Separation Minima |
| GAT |
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General Air Traffic (e.g. Civil Traffic) |
| GMU |
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GPS Monitoring Unit |
| HMU |
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Height Monitoring Unit |
| MASPS |
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Minimum Aircraft System Performance Specifications |
| MECMA |
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Middle East Central Monitoring Agency |
| OAT |
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Operational Air Traffic (e.g. Military Traffic) |
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Terms will be used with regard to RVSM airspace:
RVSM Entry Point – The first reporting point over which an aircraft passes
or is expected to pass immediately before, upon or immediately after initial
entry into RVSM Airspace from Non-RVSM Airspace, normally the first reference
point for applying a 1,000Ft vertical separation minimum between RVSM approved
aircraft.
RVSM Exit Point - The last reporting point over which an aircraft passes
or is expected to pass immediately before, upon or immediately after leaving
RVSM Airspace into Non-RVSM Airspace, normally the last reference point for
applying a 1,000Ft vertical separation minimum between RVSM approved aircraft.
RVSM Airspace – that airspace between FL290 and FL 410 where a 1,000Ft
vertical separation minima is applied between RVSM approved aircraft. This can
be airspace within a certain FIR, portions of airspace within an FIR or airspace
within a region.
State Aircraft – Only aircraft used in Military, Customs and Police
services qualify as State Aircraft. (Royal Flight and other VIP aircraft are not
regarded as State aircraft and cannot use RVSM airspace if the aircraft are not
RVSM compliant.)
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Cruising Levels Used in RVSM Airspace:
The following table shows the flight levels that are used in RVSM airspace.
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RVSM Cruising Levels
Appropriate to Direction of Flight (FL280 to FL430) |
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Track from 180deg to 359deg |
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Track from 360deg to 179deg |
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FL430 |
(Non
RVSM Level) |
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FL410 |
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FL400 |
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FL390 |
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FL380 |
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FL370 |
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FL360 |
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FL350 |
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FL340 |
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FL330 |
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FL320 |
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FL310 |
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FL300 |
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FL290 |
It should be noted that
FL310,
FL350
and FL390
become
EASTBOUND
levels in RVSM airspace.
Flight Planning:
All State aircraft i.e. Military, Customs or Police shall insert the letter
“M” in Item 8 of the ICAO flight plan.
Operators of RVSM approved aircraft shall insert the letter ”W” in Item 10
of the ICAO flight plan.
Operators of non-RVSM approved State aircraft shall insert “STS/NONRVSM” in
Item 18 of the ICAO flight plan.
Operators of formation flights of State aircraft shall NOT insert the letter
”W” in Item 10 of the ICAO flight plan, regardless of the RVSM approval
status of the aircraft concerned. Operators of formation flights of State
aircraft intending to operate within the MID RVSM airspace as GAT shall
include “STS/NONRVSM” in Item 18 of the ICAO flight plan.
Operators of RVSM approved aircraft and non-RVSM approved State aircraft
intending to operate within the MID RVSM airspace shall include the
following in Item 15 of the ICAO flight plan:
The entry point and requested flight level into RVSM airspace: and
The exit point and requested flight level leaving RVSM airspace.
Note: there are no requirements to include entry/exit points between two
adjacent RVSM areas e.g. MID and EUR (Middle East and Europe).
Non-RVSM approved civil aircraft are not permitted into RVSM airspace and
shall flight plan to operate outside RVSM airspace i.e. by remaining at
FL280 or below.
Operators of non-RVSM approved civil aircraft intending to operate from a
departure aerodrome OUTSIDE RVSM airspace to a destination aerodrome WITHIN
the lateral limits of RVSM airspace shall include the following in Item 15
of the ICAO flight plan:
The entry point into RVSM airspace; and
The requested flight level below FL290 for that portion of the route
beginning immediately after the entry point into RVSM airspace.
Operators of non-RVSM approved civil aircraft intending to operate from a
departure aerodrome WITHIN the lateral limits of RVSM airspace to a
destination aerodrome OUTSIDE the lateral limits of RVSM airspace shall
include the following in Item 15 of the ICAO flight plan:
A requested flight level below FL290 for that portion of the route within
the lateral limits of RVSM airspace; and
The exit point from RVSM airspace and the requested flight level for that
portion of the route beginning immediately after the exit point from RVSM
airspace.
Operators of non-RVSM approved civil aircraft intending to operate from a
departure aerodrome OUTSIDE the lateral limits of RVSM airspace to a
destination aerodrome OUTSIDE the lateral limits of RVSM airspace but with
part of the route within the lateral limits of RVSM airspace shall include
the following in Item 15 of the ICAO flight plan:
The entry point into RVSM airspace and a requested flight level below FL290
or above FL410 for that portion of the route beginning immediately after the
entry point into RVSM airspace; and
The exit point from RVSM airspace and the requested flight level for that
portion of the route beginning immediately after the exit point from RVSM
airspace.
ATC Clearances:
Only RVSM approved aircraft and non-RVSM approved State aircraft will be
issued with an ATC clearance to operate in RVSM airspace. All other non-RVSM
approved aircraft will have to plan to operate below FL290 to keep them out
of RVSM airspace.
If the RVSM approval status of an aircraft is not known e.g. the information
was not received on the flight plan, the Controller shall ask the pilot to
confirm the RVSM status of the aircraft. If the pilot confirms “RVSM
approved”, the Controller shall consider the flight as being RVSM approved.
If the aircraft is proceeding into an adjacent FIR, this information shall
be relayed to the accepting unit, either as part of the coordination message
or as a separate coordination message.
Formation flights of civil traffic shall not be cleared into RVSM airspace,
even if they are RVSM compliant.
Formation flights of State aircraft may be cleared into RVSM airspace.
However, they shall be regarded as being non-RVSM compliant, regardless of
the RVSM status of individual aircraft in the formation. As such, they shall
request special handling by ATC and a minimum vertical separation minima of
2,000Ft. shall be provided between the formation flight and all other
traffic operating in RVSM airspace.
Vertical Separation Minima:
The following vertical separation minima shall be used in RVSM airspace:
a |
Between RVSM compliant aircraft |
1000 ft |
b |
Between non RVSM approved State aircraft and any other aircraft |
2000 ft |
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c |
Between all formation flights of State aircraft and any other aircraft |
2000 ft |
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d |
Between an aircraft experiencing a communications failure and any other aircraft |
2000 ft |
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e |
Between an aircraft experiencing severe turbulence e.g. due to weather or wake vortex (turbulence) and other
aircraft |
2000 ft |
The implementation of a 2,000Ft minima caused by reports of severe
turbulence shall be coordinated with any adjacent Sector or Unit that may
also be affected.
The use of all levels between FL290 and FL410 is approved for use in severe
turbulence conditions and between non-RVSM approved State aircraft and RVSM
approved aircraft e.g. one aircraft may be cleared to FL300 and to ensure
the 2,000Ft separation, the next aircraft will be at FL320. In Controlled
Airspace, flight levels can be used for East or West-bound traffic e.g. to
ensure separation with a West-bound non-RVSM approved State aircraft at
FL300 an East-bound RVSM approved aircraft can be cleared to FL320 until
separation is achieved by other means e.g. lateral separation determined by
radar.
The tolerance value used to determine that Mode C derived level information
is accurate shall be 300 ft. or more. If the displayed level information is
not within the approved tolerance value or when a difference greater than
the approved tolerance value is detected after checking, the pilot shall be
requested to check the pressure setting and confirm the aircraft’s level
e.g. if the Mode C readout shows FL303 instead of FL300, the pilot shall be
requested to verify his pressure settings and FL.
If a pilot informs ATC that his aircraft’s equipment no longer meets the
RVSM criteria, the Controller will regard the aircraft as non-RVSM compliant
and take action to immediately provide a vertical separation minima of
2,000Ft or appropriate radar separation between this aircraft and other
aircraft operating in RVSM airspace. The Controller will clear the aircraft
out of RVSM airspace as soon as is practicable.
If a pilot informs ATC that he has managed to restore the aircraft’s
equipment back to RVSM capability, ATC can use this information to restore
normal RVSM criteria to the flight i.e. clearance back into RVSM airspace
and/or the use of RVSM vertical separation.
The first ACC or Sector that becomes aware of a change to an aircraft’s RVSM
status shall coordinate this with the relevant adjacent ACC/Sector that the
flight will enter.
Phraseologies:
The following standard phraseologies have been developed for use with RVSM.
These are international standards and Controllers should try to follow them
as closely as possible. Any extra words or even a reduction of words could
change the meaning of the phrase and cause confusion.
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SUBJECT |
PHRASEOLOGY
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For a Controller to find out the RVSM status of an aircraft |
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….(callsign) CONFIRM RVSM APPROVED |
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For a pilot to report non-RVSM approval status:
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on the initial call on any frequency within the MID RVSM airspace.
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in all requests for flight level changes in MID RVSM airspace, and
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in all read-backs to flight level clearances in MID RVSM airspace
Additionally, except for State aircraft, pilots shall include this phrase
to read-back flight level clearances involving the transit between FL290 or FL410. |
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NEGATIVE RVSM
(Controllers shall also use this phrase in the readback after the first
contact.)
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For the pilot of a non-RVSM approved State aircraft. |
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NEGATIVE RVSM STATE AIRCRAFT |
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For a pilot to report RVSM approval status |
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AFFIRM RVSM |
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For a Controller to deny (refuse) entry into RVSM airspace |
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….callsign) UNABLE CLEARANCE INTO RVSM AIRSPACE MAINTAIN (OR DESCEND TO OR CLIMB TO) FL |
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For a pilot to report when severe turbulence affects the aircraft’s capability to maintain the height
keeping requirements for RVSM |
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UNABLE RVSM DUE TURBULENCE |
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For a pilot to report that the aircraft’s equipment has degraded to below that required for flight within RVSM
airspace |
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UNABLE RVSM DUE EQUIPMENT |
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For a pilot to report ready to resume operations within RVSM airspace after an equipment or weather related
problem |
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READY TO RESUME RVSM |
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For a Controller to confirm that an aircraft has regained its RVSM approval status, or to confirm that the
pilot is ready to resume RVSM operations |
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CONFIRM ABLE TO RESUME RVSM |
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COORDINATION BETWEEN ATS UNITS
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To verbally supplement an automated estimate message exchange that does not automatically transfer Item 18
flight plan information |
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NEGATIVE RVSM OR NEGATIVE RVSM STATE AIRCRAFT (as applicable) |
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To verbally supplement estimate messages of non-RVSM approved aircraft |
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NEGATIVE RVSM OR NEGATIVE RVSM STATE AIRCRAFT (as applicable) |
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To coordinate the cause of a contingency relating to an aircraft that is unable to conduct RVSM operations due to
severe turbulence or other severe weather related phenomenon (e.g. a
line of thunder storms) or equipment failure as applicable |
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….(callsign) UNABLE RVSM DUE TURBULENCE (OR EQUIPMENT) as applicable
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Coordination:
The standard coordination phraseology for coordination messages will be
used. However, the following information shall be included at the end of the
coordination message if applicable:
For non RVSM aircraft: “NEGATIVE RVSM”
For non RVSM State aircraft: “NEGATIVE RVSM STATE AIRCRAFT”
When a single aircraft is experiencing an in–flight contingency (problem)
that affects its RVSM operations e.g. some of the aircraft’s RVSM equipment
has failed or the flight is experiencing severe turbulence which affects its
ability to maintain RVSM required FL accuracy, the following information
shall be included at the end of the coordination message as applicable:
Equipment failure: “UNABLE RVSM DUE EQUIPMENT”
An aircraft is experiencing severe turbulence: “UNABLE RVSM DUE TURBULENCE”
The relevant sector Controller is responsible for ensuring that this
information is given to the next sector or Unit. |