Cirujano General

Tcas_5.doc 19 March 2002

TCAS II OPERATION IN REDUCED
VERTICAL SEPARATION MINIMUM (RVSM) AIRSPACE

INTRODUCTION. This material has been developed by the Flight Technologies and Procedures Division (AFS-400) at FAA Headquarters. An AFS-400 representative chaired the North Atlantic System Planning Group (NATSPG) Ops/Air sub-group which developed aircraft and operator RVSM approval guidancefor the North Atlantic (NAT). An AFS-400 representative now chairs the Ops/Air sub-group of the ICAO Pacific RVSM Implementation Task Force.

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) Compatibility With RVSM Operations:
Appendix G to 14 CFR Part 91 requires all TCAS II equipped aircraft operating in RVSM airspace after March 31, 2002 to be equipped with TSO C-119b (Version 7.0), ora later version unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator.

Training Considerations for Using TCAS in an RVSM Airspace, was originally published on October 11, 1996. It has been used since that time to train pilots on TCAS II (Version 6.04) operations in airspace where RVSM is implemented. The attachment to this cover letter (dated June 30, 1999) provides minor updates to the originalparagraph 1 (Introduction) and in paragraph 1d recommends that, as soon as possible, TCAS II (Change 7) be installed on aircraft used in RVSM operations.

BACKGROUND.

NORTH ATLANTIC RVSM. RVSM refers to a separation minimum of 1,000 feet in the vertical dimension between flight levels 290 and 410. RVSM was implemented in North Atlantic (NAT) Minimum Navigation Performance Specification(MNPS) airspace in stages. Stage 1 implemented RVSM between flight level (FL) 330 and 370 (inclusive).on March 27, 1997. Stage 2 implemented RVSM between FL 310 and 390 (inclusive) on October 8, 1998. Schedules for expansion of RVSM to other FL’s in the NAT will be established by the NAT Air Traffic Services Provider authorities after consideration of user needs and readiness.

PACIFIC RVSM.RVSM was implemented in Pacific oceanic airspace between FL 290 and 390 (inclusive) on February 24, 2000. The ground rules for RVSM implementation in specific Flight Information Regions (FIR’s) are published in State NOTAMS and Aeronautical Information Publications.

AIRCRAFT/OPERATOR APPROVAL. Handbook Bulletin for Air Transpiration (HBAT) 97-02 (2/28/97) states that the Interim GuidanceMaterial on the Approval of Operators/Aircraft For RVSM Operations (3/14/94), as amended, provides an acceptable means of operator and aircraft approval for RVSM. The interim guidance contains information on operating practices and procedures related to RVSM that must be incorporated into pilot training programs. In Change 1 to IG 91-RVSM (6/30/99), Appendix 4, paragraph 7, lists TCAS operation in anRVSM environment as a Special Emphasis Item for pilot training.
ACTION.

The attachment to this memo is a training package that addresses the effect of RVSM on TCAS II operation. Responsible authorities must ensure that, prior to flying in RVSM airspace, pilots are trained on this subject. The TCAS Program Office at FAA Headquarters has developed and coordinated the attached material. Itprovides an acceptable means of conducting such training.

We have coordinated the following with the TCAS Program Office: in that pilots will have already received training on and obtained operating experience with TCAS, we have concluded that initial training on the material addressing the effect of RVSM on TCAS operation may take the form of a pilot bulletin. Operators may, however, showother methods of training to be acceptable. As paragraph 4 of the attachment (Recurrent Training) states, "recurrent training programs should also be updated to include information that ensures that pilots maintain an adequate level of knowledge on the subject."

The attached material is published on the FAA RVSM website in the Documentation section. The FAA RVSM website can be accessed by...