AGHME Monitoring Procedures

An operator should follow the steps below in order to maximize the chance of successful monitoring by an AGHME constellation:

• Ensure that the aircraft is in RVSM approved configuration.
• Ensure that aircraft is Mode S equipped. Without Mode S, there will be no measurement.
• Obtain acceptance of an RVSM monitoring plan from the relevant State RVSM approving official.
• Check US RVSM Approvals to ensure aircraft is properly listed (i.e. aircraft type, serial number, operator name).
• Choose an AGHME constellation for monitoring (see AGHME Locations for choices and to verify operational status).
• Plan flight on a route through the center of the AGHME coverage area, at a flight level between 290 and 410, inclusive.
• Ensure that the flight plan provides for straight level-flight operation through the AGHME coverage area.
• There are no special monitoring routings; do not ask ATC for any special treatment to accommodate AGHME measurement, as it is not an ATC responsibility.

The AGHME systems are continuously recording data. Prior coordination is not required to conduct an AGHME monitoring flight.

Monitoring Results: Confirmation of a successful monitoring is located in the abridged version of the U.S. RVSM Approvals database. AGHME monitoring status results will not be distributed. FAA inspectors will refer to this database for confirmation of a successful AGHME monitoring flight. If an aircraft does not appear in the approvals database, then this is an indication that the RVSM approval information for this aircraft is not complete (i.e. airworthiness approval or ops specs were not collected/distributed to the Administrator of the US RVSM Approvals Database); it is not an indication of an unsuccessful AGHME monitoring flight.

** AGHME monitoring data is processed within 4-6 weeks.