RVSM

Altitude Adjustments

100

What is the standard vertical separation in feet between aircraft flying between FL 290 and FL 410 in RVSM airspace?

1,000 feet.

200

What was the standard vertical separation in feet between aircraft flying between FL 290 and FL 410 before RVSM was implemented?

2,000 feet.

300

What is the primary safety benefit of RVSM?

Maintains safe vertical separation between aircraft.

400

What is the standard vertical separation between non-RVSM aircraft operating as general air traffic (GAT) and any other aircraft within RVSM airspace?

2,000 feet.

Equipment & Approval

100

What specific aircraft equipment is required to fly in RVSM airspace?

Specially certified altimeters and autopilots.

1. Two independent altitude measurement systems;
2. An altitude alerting system;
3. An automatic altitude control system; and
4. A secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder with altitude reporting system that can be connected to the altitude measurement system in use for altitude keeping.

200

How does RVSM increase airspace capacity?

By reducing the required vertical separation, allowing more aircraft to fly at optimal flight levels.

300

What piece of equipment combined with altimeters increased altitude accuracy?

Air Data Computers (ADC).

400

If an aircraft is not RVSM approved, what are the options for the flight?

1. Fly Below or Above RVSM Airspace  

2. Request ATC Accommodation

3. Flight plans must be adjusted to reflect the aircraft's non-RVSM status. This includes:

• Selecting appropriate flight levels outside of RVSM airspace.
• Considering alternative routes that avoid RVSM airspace.

Implementation

100

What is the unit of measure for flight levels (FL)?

Feet.

200

What does RVSM stand for?

Reduced Vertical Separation Minima or Minimum (RVSM)

300

What is the primary purpose of RVSM?

To increase the number of aircraft that can safely fly in a particular volume of airspace.

400

Which international organization proposed the reduction of vertical separation to 1,000 feet?

ICAO  

PHRASEOLOGY

100

The following phraseology shall be used:

 ... to ascertain RVSM approval status of an aircraft 

CONFIRM RVSM APPROVED  

200

The following phraseology shall be used:

...to report RVSM approved status

*AFFIRM RVSM 

300

The following phraseology shall be used:
... to report RVSM non-approved status followed by supplementary information

*NEGATIVE RVSM [(supplementary information, e.g. State aircraft)

400

The following phraseology shall be used:

...to deny ATC clearance into RVSM airspace

UNABLE ISSUE CLEARANCE INTO RVSM AIRSPACE, MAINTAIN [or DESCEND TO, or CLIMB TO] (level);  

PHRASEOLOGY

100

The following phraseology shall be used:

...to report when severe turbulence affects the capability of an aircraft to maintain height keeping requirements for RVSM 

...to report that the equipment of an aircraft has degraded below minimum aviation system performance standards 

*UNABLE RVSM DUE TURBULENCE;

*UNABLE RVSM DUE EQUIPMENT;

200

The following phraseology shall be used:

... to request confirmation that an aircraft has regained RVSM approved status or a pilot is ready to resume RVSM operations 

... to report ability to resume RVSM operations after an equipment or weather-related contingency 

CONFIRM ABLE TO RESUME RVSM;

*READY TO RESUME RVSM

300

The following phraseology shall be used:

...to request an aircraft to provide information as soon as RVSM approved status has been regained or the pilot is ready to resume RVSM operations 

REPORT WHEN ABLE TO RESUME RVSM;

400

The following phraseology shall be used:

...to request confirmation that an aircraft has regained RVSM approved status or a pilot is ready to resume RVSM operations

CONFIRM ABLE TO RESUME RVSM;