Protecting Hawker RVSM Certification

Sealing Pandora's Box

Get the PDF & Register for Updates

Request Information
Make / Model: *

Estimated Work Date:

Requested Services:
Hawker 800 series RVSM avionics nose bay modification
Your Name: *

Email: (we will keep it completely private) *

Phone:

Company:

Job Title:

Protecting Hawker RVSM Certification

Tight tolerances for skin variances has significantly increased the ground time required for Hawker 800 series RVSM maintenance. Many operators have landed at remote locations for AOG avionics servicing, only to discover that those locations were not capable of restoring the aircraft's RVSM certification.

Is there a way to access Hawker 800 / 800XP avionics boxes at a remote location without disturbing RVSM critical areas? Most definitely. Yes. This field guide explores the issues surrounding RVSM recertification, and ways to avoid disturbing RVSM critical areas when accessing the avionics nose bay.

Hawker RVSM Topics

Introduction

Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) has reduced the tolerance for errors in altimetry systems. However, anyone who has had to get an RVSM manual approved is intimately aware of the tightened regulatory grip on pitot static systems, as well as maintenance and aircrew training that comes with it. These RVSM requirements have resulted in additional maintenance costs and ground time for many. On most aircraft this has created RVSM critical zones that have much tighter tolerance for skin variances.

For Hawker 800 series aircraft, the nose avionics bay access panels are located in a RVSM critical area. This critical area has very tight tolerances for gaps and skin variances as called out by the aircraft’s RVSM Service Bulletin. This has significantly increased the ground time required for maintenance and troubleshooting on flight guidance and Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) systems, negatively impacting flight schedules.

“A simple replacement of a Flight Guidance Computer has become a recertification of the RVSM critical zone, including any rework of that area required to meet OEM specifications,” says Adrian Chene, Technical Representative at Duncan Aviation’s Battle Creek, Mich., facility.

The avionics bay door panels have become the modern aviator’s equivalent to Pandora’s Box.