Trans-Regional Airspace and Supporting ATM Systems Steering Group First Meeting (TRASAS/1):
Trans-Regional Airspace and Supporting ATM Systems Steering Group First Meeting (TRASAS/1) First Meeting to consider China RVSM
The Thirtieth Meeting of the ICAO RVSM Implementation Task Force (RVSM/TF/30) was held from 12 to 16 March 2007 at ICAO Asia and Pacific Office, Bangkok, Thailand. The RVSM/TF/30 was the first meeting to consider planning of RVSM in Chinese FIRs.
The RVSM/TF/30 was attended by 106 participants from China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United States, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam,
IATA, IFALPA and IFATCA representatives also attended.
Key Discussion Areas:
Key Discussion Areas Greatest challenge in RVSM implementation in China was the conversions from meter to feet, which may result in errors after being rounded
China will not follow the feet system and continued argument on this issue will only result in delaying the implementation on RVSM
RVSM Flight Level Allocation System (FLAS) in China
Possibility of a breakdown in separation during the transition between a China RVSM level and a feet flight level
For example, a Chinese ACC assigns an eastbound aircraft 8900m which would correspond to FL 291 whereas the westbound aircraft could be operating at FL 300 from a neighboring FIR
In order to identify the transition activities resulting from the implementation of RVSM with the metric system in China and to facilitate the amendment process of the LOAs by China and States concerned, the meeting worked out a table of the transition activities
Safety and Airspace Monitoring Considerations :
Safety and Airspace Monitoring Considerations The meeting reviewed the readiness of aircraft and airlines for RVSM operations that will be operated in the China RVSM airspace
Noted that 78 % of Chinese operators’ domestic fleets had been RVSM approved and some Chinese operators had already had experience of operating in RVSM airspace
China would also follow the same target of 90% approved aircraft as was used in the Pacific RVSM
It was confirmed that China was responsible for the safety assessment for RVSM implementation in the Chinese airspace
Harmonization of RVSM Flight Level Allocation System (FLAS) :
Harmonization of RVSM Flight Level Allocation System (FLAS) China was coordinating with the Russian Federation on the possibility of enhancing mutual coordination with Mongolia and Russia Federation, and implementing the same RVSM level allocation system
A proposal by China of two options for a common China and Russia RVSM level system. The only difference between the Option One and Two was 8400m vs. 8500m.
Advantage of Option One was:
Using 8400m is consistent with the current arrangement of eastbound level being odd, westbound level being even
Advantage of Option Two was:
Level 8500m is closer to FL 280
Russian Federation agreed to fully support China FLAS (including the adoption of 8400m) and will make a joint proposal for amendment of ICAO Annex 2 with China in due time
Slide6:
Considered RVSM Flight Level Allocation in China
Implementation Date:
Implementation Date It was agreed to progress the work to introduce RVSM in the Chinese FIRs on 22 November 2007