National Simulation Capability Reduced Vertical Separation Minima. Phase I. Result Report.

• Main Authors: Seeger, Diena, Roske-Hofstrand, R.
• Other Authors: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TECHNICAL CENTER ATLANTIC CITY NJ
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1995
• Subjects: Air Navigation and Guidance; *AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS; *AIR NAVIGATION; SCANNING; IONS; POSITION(LOCATION); HIGH FREQUENCY; AIRCRAFT; REPORTS; DISPLAY SYSTEMS; REDUCTION; VERTICAL ORIENTATION; PLANNING; AIR SPACE; SEPARATION; OCEANS; WORKLOAD; FLIGHT SIMULATION; AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS; NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA302726; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA302726

The Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) experiment resulted from the North Atlantic (NAT) System Planning Group's conclusion to carry out studies aimed at achieving early implementation of RVSM in the NAT Region. RVSM is an approved International Civil Aviation Organization concept to reduce aircraft vertical separation from the Conventional Vertical Separation Minima (CVSM) of 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet. This reduction occurs between flight level 290 to 410, within a designated portion of the NAT Region. Phase I investigated workload changes resulting from the transition of westbound aircraft from RVSM to CVSM before leaving defined nonradar RVSM airspace. The simulated New York Air Route Traffic Control Center Oceanic Sectors D71 and D72 were configured with an Oceanic Display and Planning System position to replicate controller operations, including simulated high frequency and inter- and intra-facility communications. The RVSM procedure increased the amount of available altitudes, thus providing the controller with greater flexibility for managing traffic. However, simulation results indicated that controllers operating under RVSM conditions experienced increased coordination requirements, longer display scanning times, and needed additional information from aircraft as compared to CVSM.