In order to maintain RVSM approval status, all aircraft approved for RVSM operations must complete an RVSM monitoring flight:
If your compliance has lapsed then Aviation CAMO Pte Ltd has a cost-effective solution that will efficiently have you back within the legal framework of ICAO and your Regulatory Authority.
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) is defined as the reduction of vertical space between aircraft from 2,000 to 1,000 feet at flight levels from 29,000 feet up to 41,000 feet. RVSM was implemented as a means to increase airspace capacity and access to more fuel efficient flight levels. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and its member states first mandated the implementation of RVSM in the North Atlantic in March 1997; with other regions around the world to follow. RVSM has now been implemented globally and requires that aircraft operating between flight levels 290 and 410 (inclusive) be RVSM approved.
Monitoring an aircraft to validate height-keeping performance is an important part of the RVSM approval process. Monitoring supports the safety assessment and safety oversight function that is required with RVSM implementation. As an Operator, your aircraft must meet the minimum monitoring requirements established by your respective Regulatory Authority to maintain RVSM approval status.
In May 2011, ICAO member states implemented a long-term RVSM monitoring policy requiring that aircraft operating within RVSM airspace complete a re-occurring monitoring flight in order to maintain their RVSM approval status. Operators must complete a RVSM monitoring flight every two (2) years or 1,000 flight hours (whichever is greater) in accordance with ICAO Annex 6, Annex 11 and Doc 9574.
For those Operators that are unable to maintain compliance by overflight of an Aircraft Geometric Height Measurement Element (AGHME), Aviation CAMO Pte Ltd, through our key partner Asian Corporate Aviation Management Pte Ltd, provides an expedient solution through use of our Portable 〖"Enhanced" 〗^2 GPS Monitoring Unit (E^2 GMU).
The E^2 GMU is a battery-powered portable GPS monitoring device which consists of a monitoring unit assembly with a GPS receiver, an altitude recording device (ARD), an Android tablet for data collection software and two portable GPS antennas that are temporarily mounted on the cockpit or cabin windows of the aircraft. This equipment works together to collect all flight monitoring data required by the FAA to grant RVSM approval status.
The E^2 GMU provides a convenient, flexible and cost-effective means of verifying the height-keeping performance of an aircraft. The E^2 GMU system typically requires a set up time of less than 15 minutes to install the equipment and place the GPS antennas in the cabin or aft cockpit windows to permit data collection. Actual monitoring requires approximately 30 minutes of straight & level flight within the RVSM stratum (FL 290-410 inclusive). The data is then analyzed and the results provided to the Operator’s Regulatory Authority.
Our RVSM Height Monitoring Flight can be completed during a revenue, ferry, or dedicated flight to minimize inconvenience to the Operator.
Monitoring will be performed by our partner Asian Corporate Aviation Management (ACAM) Pte Ltd, who is the only privately owned RVSM provider in the Asia Pacific region that has been granted the required Global Approvals of all of the Regional Monitoring Agencies (RMU’S) together with the FAA. We utilise only qualified aircraft FAA A&P maintenance engineers, or FAA ATPL licence holders, who are trained and certified by CSSI, Inc., the company contracted by the FAA to serve as a monitoring service provider on behalf of RVSM airspace users.
To schedule an RVSM monitoring flight - or to discuss your ICAO compliance requirements - contact our RVSM team at Aviation CAMO Pte Ltd.