Garrett Aviation Services of Arizona has teamed up with Atlanta-based Aviation Services Group to develop an operator RVSM (reduced vertical-separation-minima) approval programme, which will allow business-aircraft users a "quick and effortless" way to obtain approval to fly in RVSM airspace.
Garrett says that the programme, which is specifically tailored to aircraft type and operator needs, addresses "both the technical and documentation requirements of the second phase of RVSM implementation". This went into effect as from 27 March in the USA.
The first part of the programme aims to evaluate aircraft equipment to see what needs to be modified. The evaluation assesses air-data computers (ADCs), autopilot and flight instrumentation, skin-contour inspection and ADC recalibration, "-including correlation to the new tolerances required by RVSM", says Garrett.
Aviation Services Group, a technical consulting company, will become involved in the second part of the programme, along with its D&D Aviation Services publishing arm.
The group will work with the operator to help define and implement documentation requirements such as revisions in operations, maintenance, minimum equipment lists and training manuals to comply with the new requirements including operation checklists, height-keeping records and proof-of-training.
Garrett's launch customer, Archer Daniels Midland, has begun to update its Dassault Falcon 900 for RVSM operations. "The entire RVSM process for Archer Daniels Midland is expected to take approximately 30 days including flight test verification," says Garrett.
Costs for the Falcon 900 have been identified as $9,000 for the aircraft's service bulletin, plus $3,000 for the International Operators Manual documentation which is available through Aviation Services Group.
Source: Flight International
