Microlighters

FAJA, FACA AND FAJO FIR
IMPLEMENTATION OF REDUCED VERTICAL SEPARATION MINIMUM (RVSM) WITHIN SOUTH
AFRICAN AIRSPACE
AIRAC Effective Date: 25th September 2008

1. INTRODUCTION
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) refers to vertical separation of aircraft by 1000 ft above Flight
Level (FL) 290. Only State RVSM approved aircraft, will be permitted to operate in RVSM airspace within the
South African Area of Responsibility (FAJA, FACA and FAJO FIRs).
After prior coordination with the appropriate ATC centre, State Aircraft (Military, Police and Customs) not
RVSM approved will be cleared to operate within RVSM airspace within the South Africa Area of
Responsibility, Two Thousand Foot (2000 ft) vertical separation will be applied to such aircraft.
Implementation of RVSM within the South African Area of Responsibility will occur in accordance with ICAO
Regional agreements.

2. IMPLEMENTATION
2.1 Effective 0001 UTC, 25th September 2008 RVSM will be implemented within the South African Area of
Responsibility, between FL290 and FL 410, inclusive.
2.2 Commencing at the time of switch over, FL310, FL350 and FL390 will change direction from WEST
bound to EAST bound flight levels. To ensure safety of operations during the switch over period, the use of
these three (3) flight levels will be suspended for a period of two (2) hours effective from the time of switch
over, to ensure that those flights which were legally operating at the flight levels mentioned, have vacated
the levels and have reached and are maintaining the correct RVSM flight levels, prior to these flight levels
being reallocated to flights on EAST bound headings.
2.3 Operators who do not have approval, and/or whose aircraft are not RVSM certified will be excluded from
the RVSM Flight Level Band, being required to operate at FL 280 or below, or above FL410.
2.4 Operators are to note that after implementation of RVSM, FL 420 will no longer be regarded as a valid
Flight Level. The next available Flight Level will be Flight Level 430.
In the event of a Two Thousand foot (2000ft) separation being applied between aircraft within the RVSM
flight level band, appropriate RVSM flight levels will be applied.
References: AIC 41.10 as amended
AFI Regional Supplementary Procedures (DOC 7030)
ICAO Annex 2 Appendix 3 (a) refers

3. OPERATIONS ABOVE FLIGHT LEVEL (FL) 410
Taking into consideration the extended distances of sectors which may be flown by operators,
the AFI RVSM Implementation Safety Policy has made allowance for those non RVSM approved aircraft
which are capable of operating at flight levels above FL410.
Restrictions placed on flights planning to operate at flight levels above FL410 require the climb to the
planned flight level, once authorized and commenced under ATC clearance, to be conducted without
interruption, until clear of the RVSM flight level band. Conversely, once authorized and commenced under
ATC clearance, descent from flight levels above FL410 are to be conducted without interruption, until clear of
the RVSM flight level band.
Non-RVSM approved aircraft intending to operate above FL 410 will need to flight plan in accordance with
RVSM procedures of neighbouring Regions should the flight commence or terminate in those regions
Reference: AFI Regional Supplementary Procedures (ICAO DOC. 7030)

4. SUSPENSION OF FLIGHT LEVELS (FL) 310, 350 AND 390 AT TIME OF SWITCH OVER TO RVSM
Commencing with the time of switch over, FL310, FL350 and FL390 will change direction from WEST bound
to EAST bound flight levels. To ensure safety of operations during the switch over period, the use of these
three flight levels is suspended for a period of two (2) hours with effect from 0001UTC 25th September 2008
to 0201UTC 25th September 2008.

The suspension in the use of these flight levels at the time of switch over, is to ensure that those flight which
were legally operating at the flight levels mentioned on WEST bound headings, have vacated the levels and
have reached and are maintaining their flight planned RVSM flight levels, before these flight levels are
reallocated to flights on EAST bound headings.
Acknowledgement: DRVSM Air Traffic Implementation Guide.

5. SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONS FOR NON RVSM APPROVED AIRCRAFT ABOVE FL410 DURING
SWITCH OVER TO RVSM.
5.1 In order to allow Air Traffic Controllers to concentrate on completing the switch over from two thousand
feet (2000ft) vertical separation to one thousand feet (1000ft) vertical separation without having to contend
with possible confliction of traffic climbing to or descending from flight levels above FL410, all operations
above FL410 with regard to non RVSM approved aircraft are suspended with effect from 2201UTC on
the 24th September 2008 to 0201UTC on the 25th September 2008.
5.2 As there may be non RVSM approved flights operating above FL410 during the aforementioned time
period, operators are to note that such flights will be required to descend to FL280 or below and to flight plan
accordingly or to delay intended operations until after 0201UTC on the 25th September 2008.

6. DISCONTINUANCE OF OPERATIONS FOR NON RVSM APPROVED AIRCRAFT BETWEEN FLIGHT
LEVEL (FL) 290 AND FLIGHT LEVEL (FL) 410 INCLUSIVE.
6.1 Effective 2201UTC on the 24th September 2008, with the exception of State Aircraft non RVSM
approved (Military, Police and Customs), all other non RVSM approved aircraft are permanently excluded
from operations in the airspace between FL290 and FL410 inclusive.
6.2 Non RVSM approved aircraft are to plan for operations at FL280 or below, alternately above FL410.

7. TIME OF SWITCH OVER
In order to sensitise pilots of the pending change to the airspace environment, commencing at 2315 UTC on
the 24th September, Controllers shall broadcast the following message on the appropriate Area Control
Frequencies, “Attention all aircraft x2, RVSM operations will begin at 0001 UTC”. This message will be
repeated at 2330, 2345 and again at 2355.

Only State RVSM approved aircraft, will be permitted to operate in RVSM airspace within the
South African Area of Responsibility (FAJA, FACA and FAJO FIRs).

Bad Nav wrote:Are there any TRIKES falling into this category.... Your intentions were noble sir!

Bad Nav wrote:They wish....

Bad Nav wrote:Ha! Ha! Bump! .... that was me laughing my head off! I doubt the GT450 has enough horsepower to drive all those EFIS panels ?