Western Hemisphere Nations Increases Airspace Capacity at High
Altitudes
The US Department of
Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is
going ahead with a doubling of high-altitude airspace routes
between 29,000 feet and 41,000 feet, an action that will give
pilots and air traffic controllers additional choices by allowing
aircraft to fly more direct routes at the most fuel-efficient
altitudes. The change, which will be invisible to passengers, will
save time and money for airlines and travelers alike.
In moving to Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM), the FAA
will reduce the minimum vertical separation of aircraft from 2,000
to 1,000 feet. The change will take effect tomorrow, Jan. 20, at
4:01 a.m. EST.
The move adds capacity while still maintaining the highest level
of safety because most aircraft are now equipped with advanced,
more precise altimeters and autopilots. The FAA will closely
monitor high-altitude flying at its air traffic control enroute
centers to ensure a safe transition to RVSM. In order for
commercial airlines and other aviation users to take advantage of
RVSM, the FAA must determine that aircraft are properly equipped,
even though nearly all commercial jets already comply with RVSM
requirements. While vertical minimum separation has been reduced,
aircraft still must stay at least 5.75 miles away from planes at
the same altitude.
RVSM has been implemented safely over the last seven years from
Europe to Australia and over most of the North Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans.
"When you save fuel, you save money: it’s that simple, and
more efficient routes save the passenger time," said FAA
Administrator Marion C. Blakey. "We’re adding airspace
routes, increasing capacity and maintaining the same high level of
safety simultaneously. We’re switching over on time and at
just the right time."
In the summer of 2003, the FAA estimated that RVSM would save
airlines and other aircraft operators $5.3 billion from now through
2016, a conservative estimate considering the increase in jet fuel
since 2003. The FAA estimated the cost of implementing RVSM to be
$869 million, primarily to airlines due to re-equipping older
aircraft.
In October 2003, the FAA issued its final rule on implementing
RVSM. Last September, the FAA met with Canadian and Mexican civil
aviation authorities and agreed to proceed with implementation. All
Western Hemisphere countries will convert to RVSM simultaneously on
January 20.