NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA - CNATRA - The US Navy

and operator approval to conduct RVSM operations. It provides
information for DRVSM and oceanic and international RVSM
Airspace.
e. TRAFFIC ALERT AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM
(TCAS) EQUIPAGE - TCAS equipage requirements are contained in
14 CFR sections 121.356, 125.224, 129.18 and 135.189. Part 91
Appendix G does not contain TCAS equipage requirements
specific to RVSM, however, Appendix G does require that aircraft
equipped with TCAS II and flown in RVSM Airspace be modified to
incorporate TCAS II Version 7.0 or a later version.
(AFFSA CL II NOTAM/AFFSA FIL 05-119)
NOTE: If a non-RVSM aircraft receiving 2000’ altitude separation
is operating in RVSM Airspace, there is no need for the aircraft to
comply with the TCAS II requirement for version 7.0 or later.
f. FORMATION FLIGHTS -
(1) RVSM separation standards will be utilized for
formation flights, which consist of all RVSM approved aircraft.
RVSM formation flights may file for a single altitude if all
formation aircraft fly the assigned altitude, either offset laterally
from each other or in trail. Non-standard formation flights (>100
feet vertical separation or >1 mile lateral or trail separation) or
formations in which one or more aircraft will maneuver, should
request an altitude block. Air Traffic Control may then apply
RVSM separation standards between this altitude block and other
RVSM aircraft (e.g. An RVSM formation flight is assigned FL320-
FL330; ATC assigns other RVSM aircraft at FL310 and FL340).
(2) RVSM formation aircraft must use their automatic
altitude control system to maintain the assigned altitude. Aircraft
maneuvering within an altitude block must ensure they do not
exceed the vertical boundaries of the block by utilizing the
aircraft altitude alerting system, altitude capture function (if
installed) and automatic altitude control system.
(3) Non-RVSM separation standards will be utilized for
formation flights at or above FL290, which do not consist of all
RVSM approved aircraft.
(4) Aircraft formations conducting aerial refueling are
considered non-RVSM compliant, regardless of the participating
aircraft’s single-ship status.
(AFFSA/AFFSA/A3ON FIL 07-291)
g. FLIGHT PLANNING INTO DRVSM AIRSPACE -
(1) AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT SUFFIXES - Operators that
do not file the correct aircraft equipment suffix on the FAA or
ICAO Flight Plan may be denied clearance into RVSM Airspace.
(2) EQUIPMENT SUFFIXES FOR DD FORM 175
MILITARY FLIGHT PLAN OR FAA FLIGHT PLAN - The revised
Aircraft Equipment Suffix Table in General Planning allows
operators to indicate both RVSM and Advanced Area Navigation
(RNAV) capabilities when filing a military or FAA flight plan. The
table revises the definition of "/Q" eliminates the prohibition of
users filing "/Q" on the DD Form 175 and the FAA Flight Plan.
"/Q" will indicate that the aircraft has both RVSM and Advanced
RNAV capabilities. (/Q = RVSM plus /R or /E or /F or /G). "/W"
only indicates RVSM authorization.
NOTE 1: In September 2005, the FAA plans to implement
additional aircraft equipment suffixes. The additional suffixes will
enable the operator to identify more specific advanced RNAV
capabilities.
NOTE 2: Aircraft filing "/Q" to operate in Oakland and/or
UNITED STATES 3-47
Anchorage Oceanic CTA/FIR must be authorized for RVSM and
Required Navigation Performance 10 (RNP-10) or better (e.g.,
RNP-4).
(a) Operators can only file one equipment suffix on
the DD Form 175 or FAA Flight Plan. Only this equipment suffix is
displayed directly to the controller.
(b) If the operator or aircraft has not been authorized
to conduct RVSM operations, "/W" or "/Q" will not be filed. This
is in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91 Appendix G, Section 4. The
appropriate equipment suffix from the Aircraft Equipment Suffix
Table will be filed instead.
(c) Aircraft with RNAV Capability - For flight in RVSM
Airspace, aircraft with RNAV capability, but not advanced RNAV
capability, will file "/W". Filing "/W" will not preclude such aircraft
from filing direct routes or RNAV routes in enroute airspace.
(3) POLICY FOR DD FORM 1801 DoD
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION (ICAO)
FLIGHT PLAN EQUIPMENT SUFFIXES -
(a) Operators/aircraft that are RVSM-compliant and
that file ICAO flight plans will continue to file letter "W" in block
10 (Equipment) to indicate RVSM authorization and will also file the
appropriate ICAO Flight Plan suffixes to indicate navigation and
communication capabilities. "/Q" is not an authorized ICAO
equipment suffix and will not be filed in an ICAO flight plan.
(b) Operators/aircraft that file ICAO flight plans that
include flight in domestic US RVSM Airspace must file letter "W" in
block 10 to indicate RVSM authorization.
(4) IMPORTANCE OF FLIGHT PLAN EQUIPMENT
SUFFIXES - The operator must file the appropriate equipment
suffix in the equipment block of the DD Form 175, FAA or ICAO
Flight Plan. The equipment suffix informs ATC:
(a) Whether or not the operator and aircraft are
authorized to fly in RVSM Airspace.
(b) The navigation and/or transponder capability of
the aircraft (e.g., Advanced RNAV, Transponder with Mode C).
(5) SIGNIFICANT ATC USES OF THE FLIGHT PLAN
EQUIPMENT SUFFIX INFORMATION ARE -
(a) To issue or deny clearance into RVSM Airspace.
(b) To apply a 2000' vertical separation minimum in
RVSM Airspace to aircraft that are not authorized for RVSM, but
are in one of the limited categories that the FAA has agreed to
accommodate.
(c) To determine if the aircraft has "Advanced
RNAV" capabilities and can be cleared to fly procedures for which
that capability is required.
h. PILOT RVSM OPERATING PRACTICES AND
PROCEDURES -
(1) RVSM MANDATE - If either the operator or the
aircraft or both have not received RVSM authorization (non-RVSM
aircraft), the pilot will neither request nor accept a clearance into
RVSM Airspace unless:
(a) The flight is conducted by a non-RVSM DoD,
Lifeguard, certification/development or foreign state
(government) aircraft in accordance with paragraph k.