Aero-Terms!

Aero-Terms are designed to be a daily reminder of the terms, names, acronyms and explanations of the unique language that populates the aviation world. Aerospace, sport aviation, fixed wing, helo, you name it... it's all fair game.

Aero-Terms should serve as a quick but intriguing reminder of the terms you may use every day, or an introduction to an aspects of the Aero-World you may not yet be familiar with. ANN also encourages readers to go beyond the FMI link, and further research any intriguing terms.

Suggestions for future Aero-Terms are ALWAYS welcome, as are additions or discussion of the explanations given for each Aero-Term.

RVSM - Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum

The concept of reducing the vertical distance maintained by aircraft in flight from the original 2,000-foot separation to 1,000 feet in flight levels between 29,000 and 41,000 feet—or FL290 to FL410. A 2,000-foot separation had been the standard since the beginning of jet age flight. The separation reduction was made possible by the more-accurate equipment on board modern aircraft; however an aircraft and its equipment must be certified as RVSM-compliant in order to fly in RVSM airspace. After evaluation studies in the 1980s, RVSM was implemented in various parts of the world beginning with the North Atlantic airspace in 1997.

FMI: www.faa.gov