More space in the air over Europe

 
The 24th day of January is the day when there will be "more" room in the airspace of Europe. On that day, the idea of the so-called RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum) will come to light in 41 European and North African countries.
 
In accomplishing this task, air traffic controllers are given six additional flight levels to use in their work of keeping aircraft separated. For many years, the vertical separation minimum has been 2,000 feet (6oo metres) between cruising levels above 29,000 feet (approx. 9 km). This scale will now be reduced to a vertical separation minimum of 1,000 feet (300 metres).

Efforts have long been under way to ensure such reduction by which it was anticipated that aircraft operators and thereby passengers would noticeably cash in on the RVSM programme which in no way reduces the high level of safety.
 
The profits gained by the RVSM are:

• An estimated increase of approx. 20% of European airspace capacity
• A yearly cost-saving for aircraft operators of 3.9 billion Euros resulting from less delays and less fuel consumption
• More satisfied passengers as a result of less traffic delays
• Less pollution as a result of making better use of fuel-saving flight altitudes and shorter air lanes

 
The most noticeable effect produced is experienced in areas where aircraft are routed through the airspace of the central and southern part of Europe where the flow of traffic notoriously causes the most airspace congestion and flight delays. In Denmark, the necessary airspace capacity is already at our disposal.
 
In the immediate aftermath of the 24th January event, it will, though, be possible to experience insufficient airspace capacity over Europe since both pilots and air traffic controllers have to get used to the new flight levels.
Some delays are therefore to be foreseen for a while, but already after a week or so, the same capacity as was the case before the introduction of the RSVM will be within reach. The estimated target of an increased airspace capacity is not expected before September 2002. 

For further information, please visit EUROCONTROL at www.eur-rvsm.com or contact our Manager PR and Commercial Services, Mr Kurt Andreasen, on tel. +45 4030 5860 or via e-mail at kua@naviair.dk.
 
Please find attached 6 fact sheets from EUROCONTROL regarding the RVSM.
 
1 RVSM Facts
 
2 RVSM mean less delays
 
3 RVSM and Safety
 
4 Environmental Benefits
 
5 RVSM benefits Airlines
 
6 RVSM and beyond
 
/ Corporate Development 21.1.02