Here we go again. This issue has been discussed a number of times and to precis the whole thing; IT'S PUNISHMENT!!
The original intent, as shared with us by our UAE brethren, was to teach airlines and operators how to make and submit a correct flight plan, a very noble cause indeed, but one that is fraught with punishing the wrong people because noone knows where the fault lies until a proper investigation is undertaken.
The surrounding ATC units have also been punished as we continually have to orchestrate either a new level for "offending" aircraft or try to get them to refile through their operations. In an increasingly difficult and busy region, there is little excuse for this. By all means, fine the bad guys when they're caught out but don't punish in the air....ATC101!!
The obvious discrepency in UAE procedure is found in the fact that they allow aircraft who haven't filed a proper plan with them through their airspace even though they don't have other crucial elements that a FPL usually contains eg nav aids, RNP accuracy, etc. Why is RVSM picked on as the single thing that needs to be punished? Surely, if they are to be consistent, then they need to ban incorrectly planned a/c from their airspace.
This is a safety issue, regardless of what you will, no doubt, hear from our UAE friends. My advice is for all you affected pilots to officially complain to the UAE ATC authorities and get this silliness removed.
Oh, and for the record, in Muscat, we haven't noticed any improvement in flight planning. So much for RVSM punishment inspiring better practice.
