Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM)
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What is RVSM?
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) is defined as the reduction of vertical space between aircraft from 2,000 to 1,000 feet at flight levels from 29,000 feet up to 41,000 feet. RVSM was implemented to increase airspace capacity and provide access to more fuel-efficient flight levels. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and its member states first mandated the implementation of RVSM in the North Atlantic in March 1997 and other regions around the world followed.
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What is Required to Meet RVSM Approval?
Monitoring an aircraft’s height-keeping performance is part of the RVSM approval process. Monitoring supports the safety assessment and safety oversight function that is required with RVSM implementation. Operators must meet the minimum monitoring requirements for their aircraft as established by their State authority to maintain RVSM approval status.
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How Often Do Aircraft Need to be Monitored for RVSM?
In May 2011, ICAO member states implemented a long-term RVSM monitoring policy requiring aircraft operating within RVSM airspace complete a monitoring flight every two years or 1,000 flight hours (whichever is greater) to maintain RVSM approval status.
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How Can CSSI Help?
CSSI and their approved RVSM monitoring partners play a key role in this requirement; our approved RVSM monitoring partners will conduct the RVSM monitoring flight required for an aircraft to maintain RVSM approval status. CSSI and their RVSM monitoring partners have proudly served the RVSM monitoring program more than 25 years; having supported over 15,000 monitoring flights worldwide.
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Contact Carol Clarke, CSSI RVSM Project Leader, 1-866-468-8111 or email monitor@cssiinc.com to inquire about our RVSM monitoring program and your RVSM monitoring options.