Story ID: 012AvionicsUpdateAINMar14EditedByAY_NM
FAA Eases RVSM Certification Process
By: Matt Thurber
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Word Count: 138
On January 27, the FAA announced that it has developed a more streamlined process to help operators with the letter of authorization (LOA) needed for flight in reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM) airspace above FL280. A joint industry/FAA task force studied issues with RVSM certification and made recommendations about how to improve the system last May. The main focus is to standardize the process and allow FAA inspectors to take into account the operator’s previous experience with RVSM operations. “Whereas earlier guidance dictated that an inspection always had to begin at square one, even for something as minor as a tail-number change, now the inspector may accept an operator’s demonstration of unchanged items and focus his time on reviewing the actual changes made,” said Mark Larsen, NBAA senior manager of safety and flight operations,