Airworthiness Requirements for Fleet
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum
Capability Registration

Effective Date: 15 February 2024

References:

• C-05-005-001/AG-001 –  Technical Airworthiness Manual (TAM) Part 5, Chapter 3, Annex A
• C-05-005-001/AG-002 - Airworthiness Design Standards Manual (ADSM) Part 3, Chapter 3
• B-GA-104-000/FP-001 – Operational Airworthiness Manual (OAM), Chapter 3

OPI/Telephone: DTAES 6-4 / 613-222-2298

1. Purpose

1.1 This joint Technical Airworthiness Authority (TAA)–Operational Airworthiness Authority (OAA) Advisory defines the airworthiness requirements for Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) fleets to obtain and maintain Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) capability registration as a RVSM aircraft.

1.2 A RVSM approval is not required to operate above FL290; however, without this approval one must coordinate with Air Traffic Control (ATC) to fly with a 2,000 ft minimum vertical separation.

2. Applicability

2.1 This TAA-OAA advisory applies to all applicants, the TAA, and the OAA when seeking approval of a RVSM capability for a DND/CAF fleet, and to those who have an existing approval such that the operator can declare ICAO Flight Plan code “W”.

3. Related Material

3.1 Definitions

1. RVSM: The application of 1,000 ft vertical separation between RVSM aircraft in RVSM airspace
2. RVSM Aircraft: An aircraft that meets RVSM certification and operator approval requirements allowing an operator to declare RVSM compliance and use ICAO Flight Plan Code “W” while operating in RVSM airspace
3. RVSM Airspace: All airspace within Canadian domestic airspace from FL290 to FL410 inclusive, as defined in the Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH) TP 1820 (reference 3.2.d)
4. Height-Monitoring: The method prescribed to verify that the altimetry system error (ASE) remains within required performance limits to ensure safe and efficient operations and determine aircraft compliance on an ongoing basis

3.2 References

1. C-05-005-001/AG-002 – Airworthiness Design Standards Manual (ADSM) – Part 3, Chapter 3 – Aircraft Navigation Systems
2. C-05-005-001/AG-001 – Technical Airworthiness Manual (TAM)
3. B-GA-104-000/FP-001 – Operational Airworthiness Manual (OAM) (available internally, within DND, on the 1 Canadian Air Division intranet)
4. NAV Canada – TP 1820E, Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH)
5. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AC No 91-85B – Authorization of Aircraft Operators for Flight in Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum Airspace
6. TCCA – AC 700-039 – Requirements to obtain RVSM Special Authorization
7. DND publication GPH204A – Flight Planning and Procedures Canada and North Atlantic, RVSM Articles 432, 1205 and 1217 to 1219
8. FAA – RVSM Minimum Monitoring Requirements Tables

4. Discussion

4.1 Background

4.1.1 RVSM registration of a DND/CAF fleet will satisfy the ATC RVSM requirements of other States for the operation of DND/CAF aircraft in their RVSM designated airspace. However, this does not necessarily provide approval to fly in another State’s airspace, if that State has additional conditions to be met (e.g., Required Navigation Performance-10 (RNP-10)). The Pilot-in-Command is responsible for the operation of the aircraft and must comply with the policies and procedures published in the DND Military Flight Information Publications that are applicable to each area of operations.

4.1.2 The process to approve aircraft for operation in RVSM airspace with a 1,000-foot vertical minimum requires involvement of the operator, the State authority, and the ICAO-designated Regional Monitoring Agency (RMA). The RMA for North America is the North American Approvals Registry and Monitoring Organization (NAARMO) located at the FAA Technical Center. Communication between the State authority and the NAARMO is done via a database that is updated at various milestones of the approval process.

4.1.3 Through bi-lateral agreements with Canada and Mexico, the FAA has established the NAARMO as the official RMA supporting implementation and continued safe use of RVSM in North America. The functions of the NAARMO include:

1. Establishing and maintaining a database of State RVSM approvals
2. Scrutiny of the RVSM approval status of operators and aircraft that use North American RVSM airspace
3. Monitoring and reporting aircraft height keeping performance

4.1.4 In the case of a DND/CAF fleet, the operator is the DND/CAF and the State authority for managing the RVSM registration database of Canadian aircraft (Civil and State) is Transport Canada, Civil Aviation (TCCA). TCCA updates its database bi-weekly with details of new or amended RVSM registrations, and then provides this data to the NAARMO, with a copy to the DND/CAF. For new or updated RVSM-capable DND/CAF aircraft to be included in the NAARMO database, the DND/CAF must provide the details of these aircraft to the TCCA RVSM Coordinator, for inclusion in their database and subsequent transmission to NAARMO. The NAARMO database is distributed to all international RVSM monitoring agencies.

4.2 TAA/OAA Requirements

4.2.1 Adding a RVSM capability to a DND/CAF aircraft is considered a major design change that is out of scope for a fleet Weapon System Manager (WSM) to approve.

4.2.2 Any subsequent modification to the avionics or electrical systems that has a non-negligeable impact on the RVSM function, or alteration of aircraft operating limitation impacting RVSM, will require an assessment to determine whether the RVSM approval needs to be reissued. The DTAES RVSM Coordinator (see B-6 in Annex B of this advisory) should be advised of any non-negligible impact and may be consulted for guidance and support.

4.2.3 TCCA published AC 700-039 – Requirements to obtain Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) Special Authorization (reference 3.2.f), which incorporates the essential elements of FAA AC 91-85B. The TAA and OAA have chosen to adopt TCCA’s AC 700-039 as the preferred means of compliance for obtaining a Technical Airworthiness Clearance (TAC) and an Operational Airworthiness Clearance (OAC) for a RVSM capability on a DND/CAF aircraft, and it is the starting point in the process of obtaining a RVSM clearance.

4.3 TAC Requirements

4.3.1 For a RVSM aircraft to be allowed to fly in RVSM airspace, the applicant must provide TAA staff with sufficient data to demonstrate and determine that the fleet meets the requirements of RVSM set out in ADSM Part 3, Chapter 3 in respect of the following, in accordance with the rules and standards published in Part 2 of the TAM (reference 3.2.b):

1. aircraft equipage requirements for RVSM;
2. additional equipment requirements;
3. aircraft performance;
4. supplementary maintenance requirements; and
5. Approved Flight Manual/Aircraft Operating Instructions.

4.3.2 In the case of an aircraft that has, or has had, an approved RVSM capability, an applicant may provide documentation to demonstrate this, such as previously granted supplemental type certificates, an operational specification (FAA term) or special authorization (TCCA term) granted by a recognized civil aviation authority, or proof of registration with an RVSM Regional Monitoring Authority (RMA). In addition, information on the height monitoring group for that aircraft should be supplied.

Note: For Fleets that have an existing Airworthiness Clearance, responsibility for approving TAC for any design change rests with the Type Certificate Holder (TCH) organization. As noted in paragraph 4.2.1, the authorization of the RVSM capability will be treated as a design change requiring TAA approval, and this approval will validate that the requirements of the ADSM Part 3, Chapter 3 have been met prior to the TCH organization issuing the TAC.

4.4 OAC Requirements

4.4.1 Prior to the release to service of a RVSM capability on a new or modified DND/CAF fleet, an OAC must be approved by the OAA in accordance with the requirements of the Operational Airworthiness Manual (reference 3.2.c), Chapter 3, Section 313. The following are additional requirements specific to RVSM:

1. Appropriate flight crew training and procedures for operations have been instituted
2. DND/CAF fleets that have been issued a RVSM approval shall be height-monitored at the times and numbers set out in Annex C
3. A RVSM approval is valid globally, subject to any region-specific operating procedures being stated in the operations manual or appropriate crew guidance
4. Adequate provisions exist for receiving the reports of height-monitoring issued by the monitoring agencies, established in accordance to reference 3.2.f.

Note: Advisory material for meeting the OAC requirements is provided in Annex A, Annex B and Annex C of this advisory.