RVSM Documenation

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• |  Updated: 3:03 pm ET October 29, 2009

The documents on this web page are in MS Powerpoint and Word format.

Table of Contents

• Webpage Updates: By Month Listing (MS Word)
• Getting Started: Information and Checklists
• Aircraft Certification (AIR) Policy/Procedures
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Contacts
• FAA Inspector Guidance
• Documents Applicable to All RVSM Approvals
• General / Business Aviation Aircraft and Operator Documents
• Large Transport Aircraft Documents
• Monitoring Requirements and Procedures
• Registration on RVSM Approvals Databases
• Area of Operations Specific Information & Operational Policy/Procedures
  1. North American RVSM
     • Domestic U.S. RVSM (DRVSM)
     • Canada – RVSM
     • Mexico – RVSM
     • Gulf of Mexico
  2. Global Areas of RVSM Operations
     • China (People's Republic of China)
     • Asia/Pacific Ocean
     • Caribbean and South America
     • Europe
     • West Atlantic Route System (WATRS), San Juan FIR, NY Oceanic, Atlantic High Offshore
• Safety Reporting

US RVSM Approvals

For Additional information or changes to this database please contact Stephanie Beritsky.

The abridged version of the database is available below in Excel and PDF format.

Please visit the NAARMO web site for additional AGHME monitoring status results.

• Commercial
  • PDF
  • Excel
• IGA
  • PDF
  • Excel

Getting Started

• RVSM Approval Checklist – US Operators (MS Word) (19 Jan 2005)
• RVSM Approval Checklist – Non-US Operators (MS Word) (11 Dec 2004)
• Job Aid: Part 91 Operator Application to Conduct RVSM Operations (MS Word) (26 Jan 2008)

Frequently Asked Questions – Applicable to all Operators

• Aircraft Certification FAQ – see Aircraft Certification Policy/Procedures
• FAQs Applicable to both Operations and Maintenance Specialties (MS Word) (13 June 2005) Applicable to All Operators and Specific to GA Operators
• Initial and Continued Airworthiness (Maintenance) FAQ (MS Word) (10 Aug 2004): Applicable to All Operators and Specific to Part GA Operators
• Monitoring FAQ (MS Word) (31 Mar 2004):
• Operations FAQ (MS Word) (12 Jan 2005): Applicable to All Operators and Specific to Part 91/GA Operators>

Contacts

• Aircraft Manufacturers (MS Word)
• FAA Regional and HQ RVSM Focal Points (MS Word) (17 Sep 2007)
• New! Flight Standards Field Office: RVSM Points of Contact – By Region (MS Excel) (7 May 2008)

Aircraft Certification (AIR) Policy/Procedures

• Aircraft Certification (AIR) RVSM

FAA Inspector Guidance

• RVSM Operations: FAA Notice 8700.36 (MS Word) (Inspector Guidance For Authorization of Aircraft and Operations to Conduct RVSM Operations (1/13/05)). N8700.36 replaces N8700.26. N8700.36 IS THE SAME AS N8700.26 WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT PARAGRAPH 3 (CANCELLATION) HAS BEEN DELETED.
• PTRS Data Entry Job Aid for RVSM (MS Word) (20 Apr 2004): Information extracted from N 8700.26 paragraph 11 and paragraph 220G of the Attachment to HBAT 03-06.
• Letters of Authorization (LOA's), Operations Safety System (OPSS) Generated LOA's (MS Word): FAA Notice 8700.45 (1/10/06) provides guidance on using OPSS to generate LOA's.
• Guidance On LOA's For Operation in Special Areas of Operation (MS Word) This document contains general guidance on LOA's for Special Areas of Operation (SAO). Information previously published in FAA Notice 8700.35 has been updated for the Automatic Operations Safety System (OPSS) generated LOA's. It is being incorporated into the General Aviation Operations Inspector's Handbook (FAA Order 8700.1).
• LOA Renewal Guidance (MS Word) This document provides guidance to inspectors and operators that are seeking issuance of the new automated Operations Safety System (OPSS) generated LOA's when LOA's issued under the old manual system expire.
• Air Transportation Operations Inspector's Handbook (FAA Order 8400.10). HBAT 03-06 (9/8/03) (MS Word) "Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum Airspace." HBAT 03-06 is incorporated into 8400.10 Change 27 (5/25/04). 8400.10, Volume 4, Chapter 1, Section 5, Paragraph 220 (PDF) is now "RVSM Airspace".
• New! Job Aid: Part 91 Operator Application to Conduct RVSM Operations (MS Word) (26 Jan 2008)
• RVSM Monitoring: Situations Where Monitoring Not Completed On Time (MS Word) (07 July 2005) This document provides guidance for situations where the operator does not complete RVSM monitoring requirements on time.
• FAA Order 8900.1, FSIMS RVSM Material – A link is provided here to "Key" RVSM documents and material posted in FAA Order 8900.1 (Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS)).

Documents Applicable to All RVSM Approvals

• New! Advisory Circular 91-85 (Authorization of Aircraft and Operators for Flight in Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum Airspace) (8/21/09)
• Example Application (MS Word) – Example Operator RVSM Application (29 Mar 2004)
• Master Minimum Equipment List (MS Word) – MMEL RVSM Operations (15 Aug 97)
• Starting Operations in New-to-the-Operator Area of Operations (MS Word) – RVSM Area New to the Operator (12 Mar 1004)
• TCAS Documents
  • Part 91 Appendix G, Section 2, Paragraph (g):
    "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."
  • TCAS Training (MS Word): Training Considerations for Using TCAS Version 6.04 and Version 7 in RVSM Airspace (9 Aug 2004)
  • TCAS II, Change 7 Modifications (MS Word) (21 Mar 2002) – Provides explanation of modifications to TCAS II when Change 7 is incorporated. Recommends that aircraft operating practices recommended for TCAS Version 6.04 be continued
• Code of Federal Regulations – Applicability
  • Part 91.180 and additions to Part 91 Appendix G, Section 8 (Airspace Designation) (MS Word) – applies to RVSM operations within the U.S.
  • Part 91, Section 91.706 (MS Word) applies to RVSM operations outside the U.S.
  • Part 91 Appendix G (Operations in RVSM Airspace) (MS Word) – provides basic standards that apply to all RVSM operations

Small Commercial / General Aviation Aircraft Documentation

• GA / Business Aviation Aircraft Engineering Packages (MS Word) (10 Apr 2008)
• Letters of Authorization (LOA's), Operations Safety System (OPSS) Generated LOA's (MS Word): FAA Notice 8700.45 (1/10/06) provides guidance on using OPSS to generate LOA's.
• Guidance On LOA's For Operation in Special Areas of Operation (MS Word) This document contains general guidance on LOA's for Special Areas of Operation (SAO). Information previously published in FAA Notice 8700.35 has been updated for the Automatic Operations Safety System (OPSS) generated LOA's. It is being incorporated into the General Aviation Operations Inspector's Handbook (FAA Order 8700.1).
• Job Aid: Part 91 Operator Application to Conduct RVSM Operations (MS Word) (26 Jan 2008)
• LOA Renewal Guidance (MS Word) This document provides guidance to inspectors and operators that are seeking issuance of the new automated Operations Safety System (OPSS) generated LOA's when LOA's issued under the old manual system expire.

Large Transport Documentation

• Large Transport Aircraft Engineering Packages (MS Word) – List of Service Bulletins and STC's
• Dispatcher Guidance for RVSM Operations, Rev. 1 (MS Word) (13 Mar 2002)
• Air Transportation Operations Inspector's Handbook (FAA Order 8400.10). HBAT 03-06 (MS Word) (8 Sept 2003) "Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum Airspace." HBAT 03-06 is incorporated into 8400.10 Change 27 (5/25/04). 8400.10, Volume 4, Chapter 1, Section 5, Paragraph 220 (PDF) is now "RVSM Airspace".

Monitoring Requirements / Procedures

• Instructions for using the minimum monitoring charts and procedures from different regions.
  • Monitoring Requirements — Until further notice, operators should use the requirements documents for the first area of operations or region where they are seeking RVSM authority for each individual aircraft type. For example, if an operator starts RVSM operations in the NAT with the B-767, it should use the NAT documents. If the operator then starts RVSM operations in the Pacific with the B-747, then it should use the Pacific documents.

    The ICAO Separation and Airspace Safety Panel is working to establish a standard monitoring requirements chart. This section of the webpage will be updated based on the panel's work.

    Monitoring data obtained to fulfill the monitoring requirements for one region can be used to fulfill the monitoring requirements for another region. Regional Monitoring Agencies coordinate with each other to exchange database information on monitoring results.

  • Monitoring Procedures for US Operators (MS Word) (15 Mar 2005) – This document contains procedures, contacts and forms for US operators planning to use the portable GPS-based Monitoring Unit (GMU), the ground based Height Monitoring Unit (HMU) or the Domestic U.S. RVSM ground-based monitoring system — the AGHME (Aircraft Geometric Height Measurement Element).
  • New! Domestic US RVSM Monitoring System: Location and Procedures Access the location and procedures for the Aircraft Geometric Height Measurement Element (AGHME).
  • Monitoring Procedures for Non-US Operators — Non-US operators will find the generic monitoring procedures for individual areas of operation listed below.
• Contacts to schedule GPS-based Monitoring Unit (GMU)
  • CSSI, Inc. GMS Operations Coordinator
  • ARINC, Inc. GMU Operations
• Domestic US RVSM/North American Minimum Monitoring Requirements (MS Word) (4 Jan 2005)
  • RVSM Monitoring: Situations Where Monitoring Not Completed On Time (MS Word) (7 July 2005) – This document provides guidance for situations where the operator does not complete RVSM monitoring requirements on time.
• Domestic US RVSM: Monitoring Procedures for US Operators:
  See the monitoring procedures for US operators published above.
• Domestic US RVSM/North American Monitoring Procedures for Non-US Operators:
  See NAARMO website for Domestic US Registry and Monitoring documents
• North Atlantic / West Atlantic Route System (NAT / WATRS) Minimum Monitoring Requirements (MS Word) (29 Jul 2002)
• North Atlantic/West Atlantic Route System (NAT/WATRS) Monitoring Procedures (MS Word) (14 Apr 2005)
• Asia/Pacific Minimum Monitoring Requirements (MS Word) (3 Feb 2004)
• Asia/Pacific GPS-based Monitoring System (GMS) Monitoring Procedures (MS Word) (13 Nov 2001)
• European Monitoring Requirements and Procedures:
  • European RVSM Monitoring: Initial and Follow-On Monitoring at Two Year Intervals (MS Word) (29 Mar 2004) This document contains an explanation of European initial and follow-on monitoring programs. Operators should be aware that Eurocontrol may contact them if the operator has not fulfilled its minimum monitoring requirements.
  • Eurocontrol RVSM homepage European monitoring procedures are posted in the "Aircraft Operators" section and in the "Monitoring Procedures for US Operators" document posted under item 1b above.
• New! Caribbean & South American Monitoring Agency (CARSAMMA) – contacts and forms for registration on RVSM approvals database

Registration on RVSM Approvals Database

• Civil Aviation Authority Action to Register Aircraft and Operators on Regional Monitoring Agency RVSM Approvals Databases. In accordance with ICAO regional agreements, each country's civil aviation authorities must maintain a database of RVSM approved operators and airframes and provide that information to the appropriate Regional Monitoring Agency. Procedures for coordination of aircraft and operator data are provided below:
• FAA RVSM Approvals Database for US Operators. The Separation Standards Group at the FAA Technical Center (ACB-310) maintains the FAA database of RVSM approved airframes and operators. ACB-310 obtains the required information on US operators and airframes directly from the FAA Flight Standards (AFS) Program Tracking and Reporting Subsystem (PTRS). AFS Inspector guidance provides direction to AFS inspectors for completing the PTRS entries. Once an operator has completed the approval process with the appropriate AFS field office, no further action is required on the part of the operator to register on either the FAA RVSM Approvals Database or on the databases maintained by other Regional Monitoring Agencies (e.g., North Atlantic Central Monitoring Agency). ACB-310 provides operator and aircraft information to other Regional Monitoring Agencies.
• Civil Aviation Authority Action for Non-US Operators
  • North Atlantic and West Atlantic Route System (NAT/WATRS) (MS Word) – Registration on the North Atlantic Central Monitoring Agency RVSM Approvals Database.
  • Asia Pacific: Access Asia / Pacific Approvals Registry and Monitoring Organization (APARMO) website. Under "APARMO Documentation" see: "Guidance and Procedures for the Registration of RVSM Approvals in the Asia/Pacific Region. (15 Feb 2002)
  • North America: North American Approvals Registry and Monitoring Organization (NAARMO).
  • Europe Contact the State Liaison specialist on the Eurocontrol User Support Cell.
  • New! Caribbean & South American Monitoring Agency (CARSAMMA) – contacts and forms for registration on the CARSAMMA database.
• View an abridged version of the US RVSM Approvals database in Excel or PDF format:
  • Commercial: PDF | Excel
  • IGA PDF | Excel

For additional information or changes to this database please contact Stephanie Beritsky.

Area of Operations Specific Information & Operational Policy/Procedures

North American RVSM: Information and Operational Policy/Procedures

Domestic RVSM

• FAA Notice GEN05003 Update: New Aircraft Equipment Suffixes For FAA Flight Plans (MS Word) Effective Sept. 1, 2005 at 0901 UTC. This GEN05003 update includes the effective time of 0901UTC. The updated version will be posted in Part 4 of the Domestic/International NOTAM Book on Sept. 1. The version now posted does not include the effective time. Suffixes indicate Advanced RNAV and RVSM capability.
• The RNAV SIDS/STARS Charting Notice (PDF) announcing related modifications to published RNAV SIDS and STARS is provided here for reference.
• FAA Notice GEN04009 Revision (Operational Policy/Procedures For RVSM In the Domestic US, Alaska,Offshore Airspace and the San Juan FIR) (MS Word) This revision incorporates new FAA Flight Plan aircraft equipment suffixes effective Sept 1 per GEN05003. See paragraph d (Flight Planning) and the Attachment.
• Non-RVSM Aircraft: ATC Center Phone Numbers (MS Word) (13 May 2005)
• Basic Operator Information on DRVSM Programs (MS Word) (11 May 2005)

Canada RVSM

• Nav Canada RVSM

Mexico RVSM

• Documents for January 20, 2005 implementation to be added.

Gulf of Mexico

• New! Gulf of Mexico Airspace : RVSM Policy/Procedures and Strategic Lateral Offsets (MS Word) (27 Oct 2004 This document reviews RVSM operational policies/procedures for the Gulf of Mexico and introduces Strategic Lateral Offsets to that airspace.

Global Areas of Operation: Operational Policy/Procedures

China

• Aeronautical Information Circular (Policy and Procedures of RVSM in China Airspace (PDF) (1 Nov 2007)
• Pilot & Operator Guidance Material (PDF) Guidance on RVSM in China prepared by Air Traffic Management Bureau of China and the International Federation of Airline Pilots (IFALPA)
• China RVSM

Asia/Pacific

• New! Operational Policy/Procedures: Pacific Ocean and Offshore Airspace (MS Word) (16 Feb 2006)
• CAA Contacts (MS Word) Pacific CAA Contact List (07 Jun 99) for aircraft/operator approval
• Unapproved State Aircraft Operation (MS Word) Approval Form for Operation of Unapproved State Aircraft (23 Aug 2000)
• Oceanic Center Contacts (MS Word) Contacts for Coordination of Non-RVSM Compliant Aircraft Operations in Pacific Airspace (4 Apr 2000)
• Asia-Pacific RVSM Guidance Material (ZIP) – This document is intended to provide broad policy for RVSM implementation programs. For aircraft and operator approval requirements, it is recommended that the individual documents published on the "RVSM Documentation" and the "APARMO" section of this website be accessed.

Caribbean and South America

• To be added

European RVSM Information

• Operator Requirements (MS Word) – FAA and European RVSM Aircraft and Operator Approval Documents (26 Apr 2002)

North Atlantic

• North Atlantic MNPS Airspace Operations Manual
• Altitude Stratum (MS Word) – Expansion of the RVSM altitude stratum in the New York Oceanic FIR NOTAM (Dec 2001)

West Atlantic Route System (WATRS), San Juan FIR, NY Oceanic, Atlantic High Offshore

• Operational Policy/Procedures For the West Atlantic Route System (WATRS), the NY Oceanic FIR, the San Juan FIR and Atlantic High Offshore Airspace (MS Word) (16 Feb 2006)

Safety Reporting

• Explanation: Wake Turbulence Reporting Procedures (MS Word) (11 Jan 2005)
• Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) "General" Report Form (Pilots, Dispatchers)
• FAA Supplemental Wake Turbulence Information Form (MS Word) (11 Jan 2005)
• ASRS