Posted by Diane Heiserman on Wed, Jul 25, 2012 @ 02:53 PM
Contributed by Jeff King, Chief Inspector - Components/Satellites
Duncan Aviation technicians hook up the RVSM test-set to the right-side static ports to test the copilot's RVSM system.
Though nearly every general aviation aircraft has received RVSM certification, maintaining that certification has become a cloudy process for operators. With the new Height Monitoring Requirements now a reality, operators continue to have questions. Here is a recent question from a Directory Maintenance about long-term RVSM monitoring.
What if my aircraft has the factory RVSM STC, do I still have to have the flight check every two years?
The answer is yes. No matter how the RVSM solution was installed on your aircraft, you are still required to meet the Height Monitoring requirement.
The guidance says every two years or 1000 flight hours, whichever is greatest. So if you fly less than the 1,000 hours in the two year period, you can continue to meet the height monitoring requirement until you reach the 1,000 hour limit.
Meeting Height Monitoring Requirements
Height Monitoring Requirements are easily met if your aircraft is equipped with Mode S transponders. With Mode C transponders you will need to have a qualified technician come on board and perform the monitoring.
For more information, read the regulatory Requirements for RVSM Maintenance Intelligence article, or download the Straight Talk About RVSM booklet.
Jeff King is the Chief Inspector of Duncan Aviation's Component Solutions and Avionics Satellite Network. He specializes in FAA regulatory compliance for repair stations and aircraft maintenance professionals. His aviation career began in 1987.
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Posted by Diane Heiserman on Thu, Jun 21, 2012 @ 02:04 PM
Contributed by Randy Dill, RVSM GMU Flight Monitor
Most Learjet 35 models are not Mode S and require the RVSM minimum monitoring.
In a FAA Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) Notam dated March 9, 2011, aircraft of operators authorized to use RVSM airspace must conduct monitoring every two years or within 1,000 flight hours per aircraft, whichever period is longer. This requirement is a follow-up to the RVSM regulation implemented on January 20, 2005, in the United States and parts of Canada and Mexico. It became applicable on May 18, 2011, and operators have until November 18, 2012, to comply.
The majority of aircraft that fly in RVSM airspace, Flight Level 290 through Flight Level 410, must meet RVSM minimum monitoring requirements, meaning aircraft that fly within that airspace will be separated by a distance of 1,000 feet. To accomplish this, aircraft are monitored to ensure the equipment on the aircraft (FMS, autopilot, etc.), keep the aircraft at their respective assigned altitudes.
RVSM Monitoring Methods
If the aircraft is Mode S, it can fly over ground-based stations (AGHME) and have their altitude recorded and then published to the FAA RVSM website. There is no cost to the operator for this method of monitoring; however, they will not receive any form of documentation of the results.
Mode C aircraft, or Mode S if the operator prefers, must be monitored by a qualified technician using a GMU (GPS-Based Monitoring Unit) while aboard the aircraft. They track the altitude for a minimum of 30 minutes while flying at altitude. Both the customer and their local FAA representatives receive physical data from these flights, as well as the results being published on the FAA website.
Duncan Aviation has been monitoring RVSM aircraft since 2004. Many of the aircraft we’ve monitored are now due to be retested before the November deadline. More information on regulatory Requirements for RVSM Maintenance is available in the Duncan Aviation Intelligence Newsletter.
For more information about scheduling your aircraft RVSM Flight Monitoring, contact:
Battle Creek, Michigan (BTL)
Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK)
Randy Dill is a qualified RVSM GMU Flight Monitor and a CNC Fabrications Specialist at Duncan Aviation's Lincoln, Neb., facility. He specializes in manufacturing custom aircraft parts. His aviation career began in 1986.
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