AFFORDABLE, ALTERNATIVE TEST METHOD FOR MEETING CIVIL AVIATION REDUCED VERTICAL SEPARATION MINIMUM (RVSM) REQUIRMENTS ON MILITARY/COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT

Abstract

A recent Air Traffic Management (ATM) initiative has reduced certain oceanic routes from a 2,000-foot vertical separation minimum to a 1,000-foot (300 m) separation minimum between flight levels of 29,000 feet and 41,000 feet. As a result of this initiative, an aircraft transitioning from the Continental United States (CONUS) to Europe or Asia will be required to have a validated, certified altimeter reporting system within the specified tolerances. The aging military airframes are not currently Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) certified. The impact on military deployment time to foreign theatres as well as high- fuel cost makes this a high-priority DoD issue. This paper describes the test and evaluation (T&E) challenge, viable solutions and test method for meeting the RVSM requirements in an approved, affordable, and least down-time (minimal aircraft modification) manner. The test method described herein utilizes a PACER aircraft in formation with the RVSM candidate aircraft. The RVSM is just one of the many Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) requirements which must be met for military aircraft to fly within premium airspace during overseas deployment. The commercial equivalent of GATM is Communications Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM). Our focus will be on meeting the RVSM certification requirements as related to the test environment.