Diane Tyler

1
ATC BriefingDRVSM Overview
Presentation 5

• Diane Tyler
• FAA/ATP-110

2
Air Traffic Control

• DRVSM
• DRVSM Program Objectives
• DoD MOU
• Major Milestones
• DRVSM Benefits
• DRVSM Simulations
• NAS Automation Modifications
• ATC Procedural Issues
• ATC Procedures Workgroup

3
Air Traffic Control (Continued)

• ATC Training for DRVSM
• Mountain Wave Activity
• System Integration
• Joint Implementation with Canada and Mexico
• Tactical Application of RVSM
• Implementation Requirements

4
DRVSM

• Creates six additional altitudes from FL 290
  through FL 410 by the reduction of vertical
  separation from 2000 ft. to 1000 ft.
• Airspace will be exclusionary for DRVSM approved
  aircraft with the exception of accommodating DoD
  and Lifeguard aircraft.
• Non-DRVSM approved aircraft may transition
  through DRVSM airspace.

5
DRVSM Program Objectives

• Implement DRVSM from FL290-FL410 in the airspace
  of the continental United States and the Gulf of
  Mexico where the FAA provides air traffic
  services (Houston, Miami Oceanic Flight In
  formation Regions and Jacksonville Offshore).
• The United States, Canada, and Mexico are
  planning a joint implementation of RVSM.
• DRVSM is proposed to be implemented in
• December 2004

6
Memorandum of UnderstandingFAA and DoD

• Memorandum of Understanding signed between FAA
  and DoD in December 2001.
• Agreement governs the use of DRVSM Airspace by
  DoD aircraft.
• Policy The FAA will accommodate non-compliant
  DoD aircraft operation within DRVSM airspace.

7
Major Milestones

• Kick-off Meeting September 2000
• User Meetings Feb May 2001
• ATC First Simulation October 2001
• DoD MOU December 2001
• Final Simulation Report January 2002
• First DRVSM Seminar April 2002
• Publish NPRM April 2002
• Second ATC Simulation June 2002
• Third Simulation May 2003
• Publish Final Rule June 2003
• RVSM Implementation December 2004 (Proposed)
  

8
DRVSM Benefits

• ATC
• Increased ATC efficiency.
• Decreased workload/less vectoring.
• Reduction in conflict points.
• Reduction in potential for error.

9
DRVSM Benefits Continued

• User Benefits
• Greater availability of more fuel-efficient
  altitudes/routes.
• Domestic fleet fuel savings of approximately 2.

10
DRVSM Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) Simulation

• The first HITL simulation was completed in
  October 2001.
• Objectives
• Identify impact of DRVSM on en route controller.
• Workload
• Complexity
• Potential for error

11
DRVSM Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) Simulation (cont.)

• Compare impact of DRVSM in three altitude bands
• FL350-FL390
• FL330-FL390
• FL290-FL410
• Comparison of conventional separation to three
  altitude bands above.
• Identify ATC procedural implications.
• Results
• DRVSM from FL290 to FL410 yielded superior
  results.

12
DRVSM Simulation (cont.)

• The Second HITL Simulation was completed in June
  2002 and focused on
• Non-DRVSM Approved Aircraft in DRVSM Airspace
• Non-DRVSM Approved transitioning aircraft
• Outage of DRVSM Equipment
• Tactical use of DRVSM
• Results Non-DRVSM Approved Aircraft.
  (transitioning, DoD, Lifeguard) increased
  workload, complexity and potential for error.

13
DRVSM Simulation (cont.)

• The third HITL Simulation scheduled for May 2003
  will focus on
• Assessing and validating proposed DRVSM
  Procedures.
• Assessment of any remaining areas of concern.

14
NAS Automation Modifications

• Automation modifications to the Operational Error
  Detection Patch (Conflict Alert), to accommodate
  DRVSM.
• Automation modifications to be made in support of
  the visual cue for the controller display to
  enable a ready distinction between RVSM approved
  and non-RVSM approved aircraft. Note The
  visual cue will likely be applied to non-RVSM
  aircraft because it is anticipated that they will
  comprise less than 5-10 of the overall fleet now
  operating at RVSM altitudes.

15
ATC Procedural Issues

• The following items will require new procedures
  to support DRVSM
• Accommodation of DoD and Lifeguard aircraft.
• Process to transition non-DRVSM aircraft through
  DRVSM airspace.
• Process to transition from DRVSM operation to
  non-DRVSM and back.
• Mountain Wave Activity.

16
ATC Procedures Workgroup

• Certified Professional Controllers will
  participate in an ATC procedures workgroup in
  December 2002.
• Workgroup recommendations expected by February
  2003.
• Coordination with industry of proposed
  new/revised procedures through the DCP process.

17
Mountain Wave Activity

• A Mountain Wave Activity Workgroup will be
  convened to assess need for procedures.
• A study is being conducted on Mountain Wave to
  assess its impact on DRVSM.

18
System Integration

• Develop a test and implementation plan.
• Seamless Integration of DRVSM within the NAS
• Coordination with other programs such as URET and
  airspace redesign, etc.

19
Joint Implementation withCanada and Mexico

• Coordinate with Mexico, Canada, and adjacent U.S.
  facilities for ATC issues relevant to DRVSM
  implementation.
• Meet with Mexico in October 2002 to begin
  implementation planning.
• Meet with Canada November 2002 to begin
  implementation planning.
• Resolve issues between U.S., Mexico and Canada
  for simultaneous implementation of RVSM.

20
Tactical Application of DRVSM

• Tactical DRVSM has been applied in other
  countries.
• The second HITL Simulation examined tactical
  application of DRVSM.
• The results, however, were inconclusive, but it
  appears that under peak traffic conditions it
  becomes difficult to use DRVSM tactically.

21
Implementation Requirements for DRVSM

• Three Areas
• ATC Readiness
• User Readiness
• Safety Assessment
• ATC Readiness Simulations, new/revised ATC
  procedures, NAS automation modifications, ATC
  training shall be completed prior to
  implementation.
• .

22
Implementation Requirements (cont.)

• User Readiness Sufficient number of
  aircraft/operators approved for DRVSM operations
• A Safety Assessment must be completed to insure
  an acceptable target level of safety exists
  within the airspace where DRVSM will be applied.

23
Conclusion

• FAA committed to successful DRVSM implementation
  in the National Airspace System.