Sat, Oct 25, 2003
Ready?
The word went out
Thursday: the FAA has affirmed the mandatory compliance date for
Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation (DRVSM) as January 20, 2005.
This approved ruling requires that all aircraft flying in the
airspace between 29,000 ft and 41,000 feet must be equipped with
specially certified high accuracy altitude measuring systems. The
FAA announcement cites that the cost of implementation by airline
and general aviation segments will be approximately $870 million;
however, fuel savings alone through 2016 will be six times the
cost, saving $5.3 billion.
The FAA estimated that 44% of the affected aircraft or 3,900
aircraft had been made compliant leaving approximately 4,900 yet to
be modified and tested.
The DRVSM mandate reduces the separation between aircraft flying
between 29,000 and 41,000 ft from 2,000 ft to 1,000 ft. Safety
considerations mandate the use of higher accuracy altitude
measurement and control systems and testing of all aircraft to high
maintenance standards. Reducing the separation between aircraft
virtually doubles the available space where 90% of airlines and
Business Jets operate. This rule is intended reduce congestion and
to provide for future traffic growth. Significant fuel savings and
associated reduction in greenhouse gases are realized by allowing
aircraft to climb to higher cruising altitudes more quickly, where
fuel consumption is lower and more efficient routing.
Beginning January 20, 2005 the government will reduce the
minimum vertical separation standard on domestic routes from 2,000
feet to 1,000 feet for all aircraft flying between 29,000 feet and
41,000 feet. This change is intended to alleviate congestion in
high traffic corridors in the eastern and western US as well as
around Chicago. Reduced fuel consumption from more efficient
routing will provide ongoing savings to the industry. The ruling
will enhance the overall effectiveness of domestic air travel and
provide greater aviation safety at the same time.
This RVSM standard has already been mandated in the air space
over the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans as well as in Europe and
Australia.
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