What is your company doing about it?

[Peter Gibbons]

RVSM is coming up....one year and counting! What is your company doing about it? I've heard everything from we are going to fly around at 280-290 to we're going out of business. I've also heard that the government might delay...anyone know if there is any truth to that.
Just concerned and wondering if my co-workers and I will be getting a pink slip next Christmas. Anyone have any insight?
We can run our DA20's in the FL 240-FL 290 range and still do ok but for us Lear 25 guys its not so good.

 

[kevdog]

I've heard rumors that our company plans to do nothing and fly a little lower...basically the million or two per plane it will cost to comply is a lot of kerosene.

 

[starchkr]

WOW!!!! you are willing to pay a million or two to get each a/c done????? Gees, we only pay $135,000 (approx) per a/c to get our LJ-35's done. Tell your company to look for better prices, and then just split the leftover with its employees...that would be great bonuses for x-mas next year. Yes our a/c will comply with the RVSM.

 

[kevdog]

I think the high cost has something to do with the radar having to be replaced. We fly older planes. I do not really know exactly how much the cost would be, this is only what I have heard.

 

[Peter Gibbons]

Well...I don't think the radar has anything to do with RVSM KEV...
I think its Transponder, static, flight data comp, and auto pilot. Any help from others? Radars aren't $100,000...not even close

 

[kevdog]

...TCAS incorporated into the radar display.

I do not run the company I work for, I just fly the planes.

 

[Peter Gibbons]

That makes sense KEV. I didn't even think about that. But it does make sense. Does anyone know if TCAS is required for RVSM? Just curious.

 

[SquirrelDog]

YES

Yes, I believe TCAS type II is required.

 

[SabreFlyR]

TCAS 2 is not required for rvsm in the U. S.

The high cost come in when you have old airplanes with old autopilots. Basically anything less than a Collins AP105 cannot be certified for rvsm ops. If you have to change the autopilot, do RVSM and TAWS the cost could easily reach a million $.

 

[starchkr]

Yeah, i know TCAS is not required because we do not have it in ours. Our radars are still the same as before. The autopilot does have something to do with it though. Our vertical speed mode will not work with the new RVSM setup... i don't know why however. One thing that is nice, no more altitude indicators swinging wildly when you begin a climb or descent, they are both compensated and the compressibility of air no longer affects them. Makes them much easier to hand fly up to the 40's.