Gulfstream IV / G350 / G450
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 6
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Human-Machine Interface
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Human Factors; Equipment / Tooling; Aircraft; Procedure
I was working on R33 with little to no traffic. I was shown an abnormal sort on an aircraft being worked by the R34 controller en-route to the Naples; FL complex. I was looking for another aircraft that was headed to that area as well to see if the sort was the same on that aircraft when I clicked on Aircraft X en-route to PNS by mistake. I happened to notice the remarks on this aircraft being confusing in reference to the aircraft's ability to fly in RVSM airspace. The remarks said something to the effect that the aircraft and crew were RVSM capable awaiting new paperwork. However; the equipment showed RVSM capable in the flight plan. I queried the R16 controller about it and they said he was handed off from ZMA as an RVSM capable aircraft and they didn't question the remarks.  The aircraft had at this point been descended across a stream of south bound traffic in sector R17/85 and handed off the R11 sector and level in RVSM airspace. I decided to call sector 11 and inform them of my findings on Aircraft X remarks and they said they would check it out. I asked the OM as I left the control room a few minutes later after hearing several people talk about the questionable RVSM status of Aircraft X and the Operations Manager (OM) said that they were legal. I said I thought they needed the certificate but that was good by me. I took no further action. I returned to work the following Wednesday and was told to report to Quality Control (QC) and filled out a similar statement on Aircraft X and a possible pilot deviation. We work a number of non-RVSM aircraft that do and do not meet the rules for exception in RVSM airspace. Many of them claim to have the process completed with the FAA and are waiting on paper work. I don't know the reasoning behind not allowing them to file appropriately as RVSM capable if the crew and aircraft are certified. Had this pilot not put that in the remarks we would of been none the wiser. Many times the crew are needing the climb to miss adverse weather that is present most of the year at ZJX and the controllers are put in the middle of the RVSM certification game. In this case I believe it was a bill of sale or address change that required the certificate to be changed; not the capability of the aircraft or crew. Make the rules black and white. If aircraft owner/flight crew have met the certification standards and are deemed eligible by the FAA as RVSM capable let them file that way immediately. Waiting on paper work seems a little out dated with today's technology; and controllers do not know if they are RVSM capable or not if they file as RVSM capable. It's not like I can challenge the pilot and ask to see his paper work. I will admit that there is probably more to the story and reasoning behind requiring the paperwork be in hand. However; I figured I would add my thoughts to the conversation since it is now being looked at by QC.
Jacksonville Controller reported confusion about aircraft RVSM compliance while the aircraft crew were waiting for a certificate.