FAO Chris Wonnacott

[3WE]

The reasoning for the 2000' separation above FL410 is due to apparent equipment limitations and accuracy, which I would find questionable given todays technology.

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Based upon?

In defense of Vector, since when is a government-based regulation based on good science and common sense as opposed to lawyers and bureaucrats?

Do we trust them to evaluate the clockwork, gearing and manufacturing processes in altimiters to know if they are consistently accurate to less than 0.5 revolutions out of 41 on the big hand?....and how much safety buffer is needed?

[VectorForFood]

That is what I was eluding to when I said "apparent"

I honestly have no idea what if any limitations todays equipment have.

Don't forget when RVSM rules were being drawn up the Concorde was still chasing pressure waves all over those levels of airspace, (ok well higher than that, but they did operate there from time to time)

There is no wording that I have ever seen in any ICAO separation standards or country separation standards which outline exactly why RVSM stops at FL410, but I'm sure there is a reason to, even if it may be assinine.

If I'm not mistaken isn't there a rule about passenger aircraft of a certain size not being allowed ABOVE FL410 for safety reasons? (Depressurisation?)

Perhaps that was a contributing factor?

[Giles]

I honestly have no idea

true

[Dummy Pilot]

That is what I was eluding

What were you running away from?

If I'm not mistaken isn't there a rule about passenger aircraft of a certain size not being allowed ABOVE FL410 for safety reasons? (Depressurisation?)

There are commercial planes that can fly above 410, but above that, FARs require at least one pilot to wear and use a secured oxygen mask.....that ain't gonna happen.

[Procede]

FL410 probably has something to do with the tropopause. As the temparature gradient changes to zero, this probably causes extra inaccuracies in altimeters.

[VectorForFood]

So DP what about the NetJets guys and the like, do they follow the same rules or do they operate as a private aircraft?

[flyboy2548m]

For regulations pertaining to NetJets etc, see 14 CFR Part 91 Subpart K (91.1001-91.1443). These are (from the FAA standpoint) private aircraft, but due to the nature of the operation, they do have to comply with certain limitations pertaining to things like crew rest (91.1057 and .1059) as well as some other rules that make them similar to charter operators. Altitude restriction, however, is not one of them.

[VectorForFood]

Interesting FB thanks, always been curious about how they operated.