United States Domestic RVSM (DRVSM)

Operational Policy and Procedures

• FAA Notice GEN05003 Update: New Aircraft Equipment Suffixes For FAA Flight Plans: 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.
  
  
• The RNAV SIDS/STARS Charting Notice 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) This revision incorporates new FAA Flight Plan aircraft equipment suffixes effective Sept 1 per GEN05003. See paragraph d (Flight Planning) and the Attachment.
  
  
• RVSM Documentation Webpage – Operational Policy/Procedures Section – section contains DRVSM documents and also RVSM operational policy/procedures for other world airspaces.

DRVSM Program Overview

• The U.S. Domestic RVSM Program is a key element of the FAA’s National Airspace System Operational Evolution Plan (NAS OEP). Please visit the OEP web site for additional information.
• On January 20, 2005, RVSM was implemented between flight level (FL) 290-410 (inclusive) in the airspace of the lower 48 States of the United States, Alaska, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic High Offshore Airspace (including Houston and Miami Oceanic airspace) and the San Juan FIR.
• RVSM was implemented on the same date and at the same flight levels in Canadian Southern Domestic Airspace and in Mexico. (RVSM was implemented in Canadian Northern Domestic Airspace in April 2002).
• The RVSM program enables vertical separation to be reduced between FL 290-410 (inclusive) from 2,000 ft. to 1,000 ft. RVSM was first implemented in North Atlantic Airspace in 1997. It is now implemented in other major airspaces such as Europe, the Pacific Ocean and Australia.
• DRVSM provides user and provider benefits in domestic U.S. operations that have been enjoyed since 1997 in other world airspaces. RVSM makes six additional flight levels available for operations between FL 290-410. It enhances aircraft operating efficiency by making more fuel/time efficient flight levels available; enhances air traffic control flexibility and provides the potential for enhanced enroute airspace capacity.