About RVSM

Historically, aircraft on a similar flight path at altitudes exceeding 29,000 feet have been required to maintain a vertical separation of at least 2,000 feet. However, as many of us are well aware of, air traffic has increased dramatically over the past decade. As a result, U.S. and international aviation organizations have sought ways to increase traffic flow on high traffic routes.

One way to address this need is to reduce vertical separation of aircraft from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet. By reducing the Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM), it increases the number of aircraft that can fly on high traffic routes. This requires an altimeter on the aircraft to be extremely accurate. It must be able to measure altitude to within 25 feet at an altitude of 30,000 feet. By comparison, a non-RVSM system only needs to be accurate within 180 feet. IS&S is the leading provider of air data systems to the retrofit market.