RSVM for USA, Cherry, and Ameristar

[iaflyer]

RVSM

If an airplane isn't RVSM compliant, it doesn't have to be grounded. You can fly it below FL290 all day long. The problem is that for an airplane like a Lear, it cuts into your range something fierce. For a Falcon, it's not that bad. Still - it would might turn a max range non-stop into a fuel stop.

It's all about the money: it might be cheaper to fly the Lear lower/higher than to complete an RVSM kit on each aircraft, train the crews, and for MX to maintain the system.

We shall see. Even USA Jet is only doing RVSM on their Falcons where it's economically feasible. On some of them, the autopilot is not capable of meeting RVSM requirements. As I understand it, those airplanes won't be RVSM compliant.

iaflyer

 

[Dr. B]

Cherry recently passed the word to us that they will RVSM their aircraft, the Lears anyway. Take it with a grain (or many grains) of salt. Like some other operators though, no aircraft have been done yet.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I read a bunch on this RVSM stuff.

U R correct, that it is possible to climb through the RVSM altitudes.

HOWEVER, in congested airspace such as the East Coast, it may never be possible. In other places, it may be possible only certain times, depending on the airspace load.

I don't think it will happen a lot except out West.

Good luck w/ going without RVSM!!!

Cliff
LRD

 

[Wiggums]

Ok, it's five months later, and I'm wondering where all the on-demand 135s are at with RVSM. As far as I know this is the situation...

Royal - All Lears completed
USA Jet - 2 Falcons completed, the rest ???
Ameristar - 1 Lear completed, all Lears to be completed by Jan 20th, Falcons ???
Cherry - 2 Lears completed, the rest of the Falcons and Lears ???

Anyone carry to fill in some blanks?

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I think USAJet has about 8 Falcons RVSM'd, which I think is all that are practically able to be converted to RVSM.

CLiff
GRB

 

[LJDRVR]

Most of the passenger-carrying 135 operations out there have not done much. My former employer has not done a single conversion yet, and I think it all comes down to money. (Cost of the mod/not having the jet producing revenue while in shop.)

My understanding of DRVSM is that it's FL410 inclusive. Climb-through is at ATC's discretion, good luck. Quite frankly, I don't see how some of these operators are even remotely competetive.

Customer: "You do have some of the latest avionics for our safety, don't you?"

135 operator: Uhh...sure, our jets are equiped with state-of-the-art 1992 GPS navigation sets.

Customer: "Wow, sounds impressive! how about TCAS, GPWS, TAWS. RVSM, Datalink, FMS?"

135 operator: "We have a DVD player in back with miniature plasma screens..."

 

[leardrivr]

Cherry recently passed the word to us that they will RVSM their aircraft, the Lears anyway. Take it with a grain (or many grains) of salt. Like some other operators though, no aircraft have been done yet.

I was one of the first pilots to fly a rvsm certified lear. It is a 24B with no buckets (N876MC). It worked great! I also flew a 25B and a strait 24 with the same result. Maybe some of you have seen them out there. We had the first one finished around febuary of 04 I think. Anyway the company has completed seven or eight mods out of there fleet of Lear 20 series aircraft and they have been awarded a group certificate to sell and install the rvsm package to any one with a 20 series lear regardless of the wing you have i.e. dee howard, century III, softflight. I just spoke to one of the pilots there last night (I left to fly somewhere else) and he told me that none of the autopilots will maintain altitude within 100 feet anymore. They are just as worthless as they were before they rebuilt them and installed the cadc's and digital altimeters. It seems that old f100 analog autopilot just won't do it. Hand flying is not such a chior now with the new static system but without a reliable altitude holding capability I just don't see how this aircraft will be worth flying. It is hard enough to get a good climb up to 410-450 as it is now. Once rvsm kicks in forget it. You will be stuck in the mid twentys pushing your profits out the tail pipes.

 

[Wiggums]

It seems that old f100 analog autopilot just won't do it. Hand flying is not such a chior now with the new static system but without a reliable altitude holding capability I just don't see how this aircraft will be worth flying. It is hard enough to get a good climb up to 410-450 as it is now. Once rvsm kicks in forget it. You will be stuck in the mid twentys pushing your profits out the tail pipes.

I heard different, that with the new static system the autopilot altitude hold is rock solid. In the non-RVSMd aircraft I've flown I've seen some autopilots that worked great, so I know that when everything is setup correctly the original autopilot can do the job. Since rebuilding the autopilot is part of the mod I'm hoping that they all work well once they get back. Now that flying with an MELd autopilot is no longer an option the mx on them is going to have to be better.

 

[ultrarunner]

Getting permission to climb through RVSM airspace...that means we will have to be at 410 and 430.....

Nope...290 to 410 inclusive. You'll need to be at 430, and you're just not going to be able to count on at AT ALL.

 

[HAZ-MAT]

Yes, the new static system is great. You can hand fly it with great precision now, but from the memo we recieved (AirNet) that when at cruise altitude you need to have the autopilot engaged. Is it a regulation no, but it stresses "should." I did talk to a Cherry Air pilot who said they had a Lear 24 RVSM'd. I'm curious about Bank Air, have any of their aircraft been equip'd?