I just returned on a flight from San Juan to Orlando and our flight level
was 300, including a portion over the mainland. Since then I've been
listening to my aircraft radio and routinely hear flights assigned FL320,
340, etc.. It was always 2000 feet separation with levels 290, 310, 330,
350, 370, etc. What has changed, and when did it change? Thanks!

"Chuck Dreier" > wrote in
nk.net:

> I just returned on a flight from San Juan to Orlando and our flight
> level was 300, including a portion over the mainland. Since then I've
> been listening to my aircraft radio and routinely hear flights
> assigned FL320, 340, etc.. It was always 2000 feet separation with
> levels 290, 310, 330, 350, 370, etc. What has changed, and when did
> it change? Thanks!

What has changes is RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums). Rules
went into effect just a few weeks ago (if I recall correctly). Aircraft
not in compliance with the new rules are restricted to something like FL290
and below.

jmk

"Chuck Dreier" > wrote in message
nk.net...
>
>I just returned on a flight from San Juan to Orlando and our flight level
>was 300, including a portion over the mainland. Since then I've been
>listening to my aircraft radio and routinely hear flights assigned FL320,
>340, etc.. It was always 2000 feet separation with levels 290, 310, 330,
>350, 370, etc. What has changed, and when did it change? Thanks!

Domestic RVSM, Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums, was implemented last
month. Properly equipped airplanes between FL 290 and FL 410 are now
separated by 1000 feet.

Thanks JMK...

I just found this information on the Internet:

a.. The implementation date/time is January 20, 2005 at 0901 UTC.


a.. On the same date and time and at the same flight levels, Canada and
Mexico will implement RVSM. Canada implemented RVSM in its Northern Domestic
Airspace in April 2002 and plans to expand RVSM into Canadian Southern
Domestic Airspace in January 2005.


a.. 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.


a.. The goal of DRVSM is to provide 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 has been show to: enhance aircraft operating efficiency by
making more fuel/time efficient flight levels available; enhance air traffic
control flexibility and provide the potential for enhanced enroute airspace
capacity


"James M. Knox" > wrote in message
2...
> "Chuck Dreier" > wrote in
> nk.net:
>
>> I just returned on a flight from San Juan to Orlando and our flight
>> level was 300, including a portion over the mainland. Since then I've
>> been listening to my aircraft radio and routinely hear flights
>> assigned FL320, 340, etc.. It was always 2000 feet separation with
>> levels 290, 310, 330, 350, 370, etc. What has changed, and when did
>> it change? Thanks!
>
> What has changes is RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums). Rules
> went into effect just a few weeks ago (if I recall correctly). Aircraft
> not in compliance with the new rules are restricted to something like
> FL290
> and below.
>
> jmk

Chuck,
Reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) rules were implemented
between FL290 and FL410 on January 20 this year. Hence, a few more
layers on the sandwich ...

KH

http://www.faa.gov/ats/ato/rvsm1.htm



-------------------------------
To email me directly, remove my aging brain.

KH wrote:

> Chuck,
> Reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) rules were implemented
> between FL290 and FL410 on January 20 this year. Hence, a few more
> layers on the sandwich ...

And if your plane is not RVSM capable you are not allowed to use any
flight level between 290 and 410. You can transition from one to the
other but you can't stay level.

On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 11:38:36 -0700, Newps > wrote:

>And if your plane is not RVSM capable you are not allowed to use any
>flight level between 290 and 410. You can transition from one to the
>other but you can't stay level.

Well, almost. There are four exceptions which can (but not SHALL) be
approved in RVSM airspace (from FL290-FL410). They are:
1) Lifeguard,
2) Military,
3) RVSM and manufacturer certification flights, and
4) Foreign state aircraft.

I have so far (since January 20th) seen one Lifeguard and one Military
aircraft cleared to remain at flight levels in Non-RVSM airspace;
however, neither one of them remained there long as the receiving
sector elected not to accept them at those altitudes.

Also, you CAN be cleared for *brief* level flight in Non-RVSM
airspace, but only for separation and not (for instance) to burn off
fuel.

regards,
Will Rogers (Atlanta Center)