As the skies have gotten busier, the global air traffic system has had to develop new technologies and concepts to ensure the safe and scalable expansion of global air traffic. Rolled out between 1997 and 2005, RVSM was one of the first pieces in the efficiency puzzle.
What is RVSM?
The idea is simple; enable aircraft to safely fly closer together with a smaller vertical separation between aircraft at higher altitudes. RVSM is yet another tool in modern air traffic management, working alongside technologies like Area Navigation and CPDLC to make our skies work more efficiently.
RVSM allows for a reduction in vertical separation to 1,000 feet (305 meters) between aircraft flying at altitudes between 29,000 feet and 41,000 feet (8,839 meters to 12,497 meters).
Not all aircraft can operate under RVSM, and there are certain criteria that aircraft must meet in order to fly with reduced separation. Primarily, aircraft need to have enhanced navigation and two independent altitude-keeping capabilities to ensure they can maintain the reduced separation safely and accurately.
Which flights operate in RVSM airspace?
Whilst the eligibility to fly in RVSM airspace is based on aircraft capabilities, the following flights are the most common.
- Commercial Aircraft – most modern commercial aircraft built by the major manufacturers (such as Boeing, Airbus and Embraer) are RVSM certified. Many newer regional jets and turboprop aircraft are also eligible.
- Business Jets – many business jets, especially those manufactured after a certain date, are RVSM certified. This includes aircraft from manufacturers like Gulfstream, Bombardier, and Dassault.
- Military Aircraft – Many larger military aircraft are RVSM certified, allowing them to operate in both civilian and military airspace with reduced vertical separation.
Can General Aviation aircraft fly in RVSM?
An increasing number of General Aviation (GA) jets and turboprops, particularly newer types with advanced avionics and autopilot systems, are RVSM eligible. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) even relaxed rules requiring GA pilots to apply for prior authorization to operate in RVSM airspace in 2019.
The absence of large volumes of GA aircraft in RVSM airspace is due to the majority of such aircraft being powered by piston engines. The majority of piston-powered aircraft can not reach the base of RVSM at 29,000 feet. For context, the service ceiling of the single-engine Cessna 182 is around 18,000 feet, and the twin-engine Piper Seneca V is around 25,000 feet. That said, there are exceptions. Aircraft such as the turbocharged Beechcraft Baron 56TC are capable of reaching 32,000 feet in the right circumstances.
An additional consideration is the low levels of oxygen at 29,000 feet, where the time of useful consciousness for most people is under 3 minutes. Many GA aircraft are unpressurized, meaning supplementary oxygen is needed for both pilots and passengers.
What does RVSM look like on Flightradar24?
The easiest way to see RVSM in action on Flightradar24 is to look at the North Atlantic region. Traffic transiting both eastbound and westbound fly in RVSM conditions.
Cover photo: RVSM in action. Pawel Gebski, JetPhotos
