Service Bulletin 20050103

Implementation of Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation Minima:

Effective 0901Z - January 20, 2005 and in a simultaneous implementation with our real-world counterparts, the FAA policies and procedures which define the use of Reduced Vertical Separation Minima will be observed by all controllers of Miami ARTCC and Miami Oceanic.

A full and complete description of Domestic Reduced Separation Minima and the implementation of this program can be found here. This is a 72-page document that describes the program in detail as it is implemented in the real-world, not VATSIM or VATUSA. It is cited for informational purposes only so that members may have a full understanding of how this program is implemented in reality.

The following is a brief and condensed summarization of the general procedures as they are implemented by VATUSA:

Flight Levels affected:

• Separation minima below FL290 remains unchanged.
• Separation minima between FL290 and FL410 will change as follows:
  • Aircraft operators who file flight plans with /W or /Q suffixes may be separated from other aircraft at a minimum of 1,000 ft. vertically.
  • The suffix /W indicates that the aircraft and crew are certified for RVSM operations. The suffix /Q indicates that the aircraft and crew are RVSM and RNAV certified.
  • Aircraft operators who do not use /W or /Q suffixes must be separated from other aircraft at a minimum of 2,000 ft. vertically when transitioning through altitudes between FL290 and FL410.
• Separation minima above FL410 remains unchanged.

Direction changes and new Flight Levels:

• The following Flight Levels will change direction: FL310, FL350 and FL370 shall become EASTBOUND altitudes for all operations.
• The following Flight Levels will be used for WESTBOUND operations: FL300, FL320, FL340, FL360, FL380 and FL400.

Operational Procedures:

• Controllers issuing IFR clearances will not deny a requested cruise altitude between FL290 and FL410 if the pilot has not specified /W or /Q in the filed flight plan.
• VATUSA policy currently makes no distinction between RVSM and non-RVSM aircraft, therefore, controllers will amend any flightstrip for any aircraft requesting to cruise between FL290 and FL410 to reflect /W certification.
• It will take some time for the pilot community to become accustomed to the implementation of RVSM. Not every pilot that flies online is an aviation junky who reads every scrap of news that has anything to do with aircraft or Air Traffic Control. Controllers are strongly advised to exercise patience and calm when explaining the changes to pilots who are still unaware. Make friends... not enemies!

The official VATUSA policy can be found here.

Also note that several portions of FAR Part 91 will change as a result of the implementation of the Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation Minima program.