Just had a quick question I run into every once and a while. When flying a non rvsm aircraft that is able to fly above FL280 is there a lot of work involved to let us up higher on occasion? Sometimes we run into situations where going up a few thousand feet would really help us out. These can include thunderstorms in the summer. Or turbulence anytime of year. Sometimes it's really rough at FL280 and there is either icing below us or the amount we would have to go down would have a very negative effect on our fuel burn. We ask sometimes (like once or twice a year) and sometimes get approved, sometimes don't.
Just wondering what is involved. I was under the impression that it means you have to apply non rvsm seperation between us and other aircraft and that often it is another sector that has to take us. I know it could be solved by the company getting us rvsm but that isn't the question here. Just looking for input from a controller.

We have defined criteria on who is allowed up into rvsm airspace without being rvsm equipped. By our manual of operations, weather is not an acceptable reason.

In many parts of Canada, there is a high/low split of specialties at FL280, so anything above is quite often into another sector, requiring coordination with that sector/specialty. Remember, during this coordination, if weather is the reason for the request, weather is not officially an acceptable reason to allow a non-rvsm aircraft into rvsm airspace. Once you are there, we need to apply non-rvsm separation (2000 feet) between you and all other aircraft.

Hope that answers your question.

This is not quite the same as flying at an altitude inappropriate for the direction of flight. It's not just as easy as a controller allowing you to fly in RVSM Airspace. There are certain rules that we are required to follow. According to Transport Canada, only certain types of aircraft are allowed to fly between FL 290-410 without being RVSM compliant.

761.3
With prior approval, the following non-RVSM
certified aircraft may be issued a clearance into
RVSM airspace:

A. a state aircraft;
B. an aircraft on an initial delivery flight;
C. an aircraft that was formerly RVSM certified
but has experienced an equipment failure
and is being flown to a maintenance facility
for repair/recertification;
D. a mercy or humanitarian flight; (including Lifeguard/Medevac)
E. a photographic survey aircraft; or
F. an aircraft conducting a flight check of a
NAVAID

761.4
You may issue a clearance to a non-RVSM certified aircraft that will permit it to climb or descend through RVSM airspace provided:
A. the clearance permits a continuous climb or descent through RVSM airspace; and
B. the aircraft will be separated from all aircraft operating at RVSM designated flight levels by the applicable lateral or longitudinal
separation minimum.

A controller may level a non-RVSM flight in RVSM airspace for separation purposes while climbing the aircraft above RVSM airspace.


Hope this answers your questions.

That clears it up a lot! We'll stop bugging you for something you really aren't allowed to do.

Thanks guys

Dave, I would advise you to not ask for it if you're not RVSM compliant.

I've never filled one out, but my understanding is that if a Non-RVSM compliant aircraft asks for an RVSM altitude without meeting the requirements that Dees posted, that there's a form we're obligated to fill out.

I don't know what the concequences of that are, but I would avoid finding out!

PTO

That's hilarious. In the speciality I trained in they use to allow Non-RVSM aircraft into the airspace to test the trainees ability to separate aircraft in that unique situation. I don't ever remember anyone filling out any forms about it. That was right at the time of the switchover to RVSM though.