National Simulation Capability (NSC) Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM)Phase III Result Report

摘要

The Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) experiment resulted from the NorthAtlantic Systems Planning Group (NATSPG) conclusion to carry out studies aimed at achieving early implementation of RVSM in the North Atlantic Region. RVSM is an approved International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) concept to reduce aircraft vertical separation from the Conventional Vertical Separation Minima (CVSM) of 2000 ft to 1000 ft, between flight level (FL) 290 and FL 410, within a designated portion of the North Atlantic Region. RVSM Phase 3 simulation studies were conducted in October 1995 at the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center Dynamic Simulation Laboratory. The study investigated workload effects and the feasibility of transitioning aircraft to and from CVSM and from and to RVSM within radar sectors R1, R60, R62, and R63 under various traffic conditions. Generally, RVSM conditions proved to be more workload intensive than CVSM conditions. Both controller and Technical Observer ratings revealed that interval and post-run workload ratings were either equal or higher for RVSM under contingency/emergency (RVSM-E) conditions when compared to normal RVSM conditions. Analysis of operational errors revealed the same trend; more errors were reported during RVSM-E. The results of the simulation generally indicate that RVSM implementation is feasible in the Western Atlantic Track Route System region.