Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM)

Overview

An RVSM awareness and operations course written for both non-technical and technical readers. It explains what Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum is and why 1 000 ft separation between FL 290 and FL 410 is safe, the regulatory map, the altimetry and the height errors that matter (ASE, TVE, AAD), the mandatory RVSM equipment, the two-part approval (airworthiness plus operational), continuing airworthiness and maintenance, height monitoring and the Regional Monitoring Agency, flight-crew operating procedures, contingencies and ATC phraseology, and height-keeping error reporting. Grounded in Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 Part-SPA Subpart D (SPA.RVSM.100/105/110/115) with its AMC & GM, EASA CS-ACNS and ICAO Annex 6.

Course content is maintained against the latest applicable regulatory amendments reviewed as of 21 June 2026.

Syllabus

13 modules, completed in order — each with its keywords and objective.

1. 1

   Welcome and course scope

   scopeaudienceassessment

   Objective: Orient to the RVSM course scope and assessment.

2. 2

   What RVSM is — the plain-language picture

   RVSM1000 ftFL290–FL410overview

   Objective: Explain in plain language what RVSM is.

3. 3

   The regulatory map — where the rules live

   SPA.RVSM965/2012CS-ACNSICAO

   Objective: Locate the RVSM rules across EASA and ICAO.

4. 4

   Why 1 000 ft is safe — the safety case

   safety casecollision riskTLSmonitoring

   Objective: Explain the safety case for 1 000 ft separation.

5. 5

   Altimetry and the errors that matter

   ASETVEAADaltimetry

   Objective: Identify the height errors (ASE, TVE, AAD) that matter for RVSM.

6. 6

   The RVSM equipment the aircraft must carry

   altimetersautopilotaltitude alerttransponder

   Objective: List the RVSM equipment the aircraft must carry.

7. 7

   Getting approved — airworthiness plus operational

   airworthiness approvaloperational approvaltwo-part

   Objective: Explain the two-part RVSM approval.

8. 8

   Continuing airworthiness and maintenance

   continuing airworthinessmaintenancealtimetry checks

   Objective: Describe continuing airworthiness and maintenance for RVSM.

9. 9

   Height monitoring and the Regional Monitoring Agency

   height monitoringRMAGMUmonitoring requirement

   Objective: Explain height monitoring and the Regional Monitoring Agency.

10. 10

    Flight-crew operating procedures

    operating procedurescross-checkstransitioncrew

    Objective: Apply flight-crew RVSM operating procedures.

11. 11

    Contingencies, ATC phraseology and ACAS

    contingenciesATC phraseologyACASweather deviation

    Objective: Handle RVSM contingencies, phraseology and ACAS.

12. 12

    Height-keeping errors and reporting

    height-keeping errorreportinglarge height deviationinvestigation

    Objective: Recognise and report height-keeping errors.

13. 13

    Summary and the key numbers

    summarykey numbersself-check

    Objective: Consolidate RVSM with the key numbers.

Final assessment

• Format: 12 multiple-choice questions drawn from the course question bank, with the options shuffled each attempt.
• Pass mark: 75%.
• Certificate: issued automatically on passing, according to EASA Part-SPA, Annex V Subpart D to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 — SPA.RVSM.100/.105/.110/.115 and its AMC & GM, with EASA CS-ACNS Subpart E and ICAO Annex 6 / Doc 9574.