ICAO Middle East Region
RVSM Height Keeping
Performance
(Monitoring Methods)
MID RVSM Risk Assessment Workshop
Tehran – I.R. of IRAN
11th February 2023
RVSM Height Keeping Performance 1
• Introduction
• Monitoring Objectives
• Monitoring Methods
• GPS-based Monitoring Units (GMUs),
• Height Measuring Units (HMUs),
• Aircraft Geometric Height Measurement Element (AGHME),
• Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B)
• Ground-Based Height Monitoring Systems Locations
Introduction & Monitoring Objectives 2
Monitoring aircraft height-keeping performance consists of collection of
necessary data using specialized systems. The Altimetry System Error
(ASE) process, is determined by comparing the identified true height of
the aircraft and the true height of the barometric pressure surface
associated with the altimetry measurement.
The objectives of monitoring are two;
• To ensure the continued safe use of the RVSM.
• To ensure that individual operators and aircraft comply with applicable RVSM
requirements, as per ICAO Annex 6 Part 1.
Monitoring Methods GMUs 3
1. GPS-based Monitoring Units (GMUs),
• The GMU is a special-purpose data collection
system carried aboard an aircraft for one flight,
• Record and collects Global Positioning System pseudo-
ranges.
• In parallel, collects secondary surveillance radar Mode C
data.
• Post-flight processing of these data ensures estimates of
aircraft geometric height are of sufficient accuracy to
permit estimation of relevant height-keeping
performance parameters.
Monitoring Methods GMUs 4
Monitoring Methods
Generations of GMUs 5
GMU 1995/1996
E2GMU
GMU has been
in
use since 1996
EGMU 2003 E2GMU 2013
Monitoring Methods HMUs & AGHME 6
2.1 Height Measuring Units (HMUs)
Ground-based monitoring units are stationary stations installed at fixed locations.
These systems can compute Altimetry System Error (ASE) for all aircraft flying over
their operational coverage's. Ground-based systems can give repetitive measurements
over a period of time, which allow RMAs to discover undesirable patterns or trends.
2.2 Aircraft Geometric Height Measurement Element (AGHME)
• The FAA has developed its own ground based monitoring system called (AGHME)
that works on similar principles to the HMU but in different design. Data sharing
between Euro-Control and FAA indicates that similar results are obtained for aircraft
that have been monitored by both the HMU and AGHME systems.
EUR Region HMUs Locations 7
1. EUR RMA HMUs; Three HMUs are stationed in the Euro RMA Region
• Linz in Austria - 48°12’08”N,
014°17’35”E (near LNZ VOR)
• Nattenheim in Germany -
49°56’45”N, 006°33’25”E
(near NTM VOR)
• Geneva in Switzerland -
46°21’49”N, 005°55’34”E
(near GVA VOR)
HMU radius of operation
• Linz - 30 nm
• Nattenheim - 45 nm
• Geneva - 45 nm
NATCMA HMU Locations 8
2. The North Atlantic
Central Monitoring
Agency (NATCMA) is
responsible for 1 HMU
which is located at
Strumble (Wales) U.K.
JASMA HMUs Locations 9
3. JASMA - Setouchi (343044N 1341627E), Niigata (375807N 1385205E),
and Sendai (380903N 1403942E)
NAARMO AGHME Location 10
• Aircraft Geometric Height
Measurement Element
(AGHME) - NAARMO -
Atlantic City, Wichita,
Cleveland, and Phoenix
(United States); Ottawa
and Lethbridge (Canada)
Monitoring Methods AHMS 11
Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Height
Monitoring Systems (AHMS) use ADS-B receivers to obtain geometric
height data from ADS-B equipped aircraft. To use this method requires
the aircraft to be ADS-B equipped and for the aircraft to fly in a region
where ADS-B monitoring is performed.
Monitoring Methods AHMS 12
AHMS - A means by
which aircraft,
aerodrome vehicles
and other objects can
automatically transmit
and/or receive data
such as identification,
position, altitude and
additional data, as
appropriate, in a
broadcast mode via a
data link.
Thank You 13
Questions ….. ?