HANKE-Aviation GmbH - Flight Crew Training

PRE-FLIGHT

CHAPTER 4

GENERAL

For Pre-Flight, Inflight and Post-Flight the SOPs and the ABN and EMER  procedure apply. For flights in RVSM airspace, they must be completed by the following.

RVSM CAPABILITY

Approval, MEL, Altimeters, Weather Forecast, ATC-FPL

Ensure that the aeroplane has been approved for flight in RVSM airspace and that its serviceability state satisfies dispatch requirements for the route intended to be flown, noting any operating limitations that might apply. Review the current flight levels to which RVSM rules apply, noting that there may be differences between regional or national airspace RVSM applications. Enter "W" at Item 10 of the ICAO flight plan (or at item "Q" of a repetitive flight plan) indicating that the aeroplane has State approval to be flown within RVSM airspace. Enter any additional annotations that may be required to signify that additional navigation approval requirements have been met (eg MNPS navigation approval, BRNAV approval or similar lateral navigation performance approvals).

The crew must pay particular attention to conditions that may affect operation in RVSM airspace. These include but may not be limited to:

- The aircraft is approved for RVSM
- The required equipment for RVSM is operative (MEL)
- No maintenance log entry concerning defects, which may affect the RVSM capability. Corrective actions have been performed if necessary.
  • Check on ground that at least two main altitude indications are within the tolerances given in the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM).
  • Review weather forecast with particular attention on severe turbulence, which may affect the aircraft altitude keeping performance required for RVSM.
  • The letter W is written in field 10 of ATC Flight Plan to indicate RVSM capability.

 

External Inspection

Carry out external checks in accordance with the appropriate guidance which will include ensuring that pitot and static ports, and the surfaces on which these are mounted are free of damage and excessive skin waviness. In addition, there may be additional RVSM critical areas on the skin of the aeroplane which will also have to be checked for damage or deterioration. When inside the aeroplane, confirm that any contingency checklists are to hand, and that the technical log contains nothing to show that RVSM entry conditions cannot be met (Two primary altitude measurement systems, one automatic altitude-control system, and one altitude-alerting device comprise the minimum equipment standard for flight within any RVSM airspace). When checking altimeters on the ground, confirm that all altitude indications are within the tolerances specified for the aeroplane.

(c) M.Hanke 2014