859 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

Pt. 91, App. G 

A

PPENDIX

G 

TO

P

ART

91—O

PERATIONS IN

 

R

EDUCED

V

ERTICAL

S

EPARATION

 

M

INIMUM

(RVSM) A

IRSPACE

 

Section 1. Definitions 

Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum 

(RVSM) Airspace. 

Within RVSM airspace, air 

traffic control (ATC) separates aircraft by a 
minimum of 1,000 feet vertically between 
flight level (FL) 290 and FL 410 inclusive. 
RVSM airspace is special qualification air-
space; the operator and the aircraft used by 
the operator must be approved by the Ad-
ministrator. Air-traffic control notifies oper-
ators of RVSM by providing route planning 
information. Section 8 of this appendix iden-
tifies airspace where RVSM may be applied. 

RVSM Group Aircraft. 

Aircraft within a 

group of aircraft, approved as a group by the 
Administrator, in which each of the aircraft 
satisfy each of the following: 

(a) The aircraft have been manufactured to 

the same design, and have been approved 
under the same type certificate, amended 
type certificate, or supplemental type cer-
tificate. 

(b) The static system of each aircraft is in-

stalled in a manner and position that is the 
same as those of the other aircraft in the 
group. The same static source error correc-
tion is incorporated in each aircraft of the 
group. 

(c) The avionics units installed in each air-

craft to meet the minimum RVSM equip-
ment requirements of this appendix are: 

(1) Manufactured to the same manufac-

turer specification and have the same part 
number; or 

(2) Of a different manufacturer or part 

number, if the applicant demonstrates that 
the equipment provides equivalent system 
performance. 

RVSM Nongroup Aircraft. 

An aircraft that 

is approved for RVSM operations as an indi-
vidual aircraft. 

RVSM Flight envelope. 

An RVSM flight en-

velope includes the range of Mach number, 
weight divided by atmospheric pressure 
ratio, and altitudes over which an aircraft is 
approved to be operated in cruising flight 
within RVSM airspace. RVSM flight enve-
lopes are defined as follows: 

(a) The 

full RVSM flight envelope 

is bounded 

as follows: 

(1) The altitude flight envelope extends 

from FL 290 upward to the lowest altitude of 
the following: 

(i) FL 410 (the RVSM altitude limit); 
(ii) The maximum certificated altitude for 

the aircraft; or 

(iii) The altitude limited by cruise thrust, 

buffet, or other flight limitations. 

(2) The airspeed flight envelope extends: 
(i) From the airspeed of the slats/flaps-up 

maximum endurance (holding) airspeed, or 

the maneuvering airspeed, whichever is 
lower; 

(ii) To the maximum operating airspeed 

(V

mo

/M

mo

), or airspeed limited by cruise 

thrust buffet, or other flight limitations, 
whichever is lower. 

(3) All permissible gross weights within the 

flight envelopes defined in paragraphs (1) and 
(2) of this definition. 

(b) The 

basic RVSM flight envelope 

is the 

same as the full RVSM flight envelope ex-
cept that the airspeed flight envelope ex-
tends: 

(1) From the airspeed of the slats/flaps-up 

maximum endurance (holding) airspeed, or 
the maneuver airspeed, whichever is lower; 

(2) To the upper Mach/airspeed boundary 

defined for the full RVSM flight envelope, or 
a specified lower value not less than the 
long-range cruise Mach number plus .04 
Mach, unless further limited by available 
cruise thrust, buffet, or other flight limita-
tions. 

Section 2. Aircraft Approval 

(a) An operator may be authorized to con-

duct RVSM operations if the Administrator 
finds that its aircraft comply with this sec-
tion. 

(b) The applicant for authorization shall 

submit the appropriate data package for air-
craft approval. The package must consist of 
at least the following: 

(1) An identification of the RVSM aircraft 

group or the nongroup aircraft; 

(2) A definition of the RVSM flight enve-

lopes applicable to the subject aircraft; 

(3) Documentation that establishes compli-

ance with the applicable RVSM aircraft re-
quirements of this section; and 

(4) The conformity tests used to ensure 

that aircraft approved with the data package 
meet the RVSM aircraft requirements. 

(c) 

Altitude-keeping equipment: All aircraft. 

To approve an aircraft group or a nongroup 
aircraft, the Administrator must find that 
the aircraft meets the following require-
ments: 

(1) The aircraft must be equipped with two 

operational independent altitude measure-
ment systems. 

(2) The aircraft must be equipped with at 

least one automatic altitude control system 
that controls the aircraft altitude— 

(i) Within a tolerance band of 

±

65 feet 

about an acquired altitude when the aircraft 
is operated in straight and level flight under 
nonturbulent, nongust conditions; or 

(ii) Within a tolerance band of 

±

130 feet 

under nonturbulent, nongust conditions for 
aircraft for which application for type cer-
tification occurred on or before April 9, 1997 
that are equipped with an automatic altitude 
control system with flight management/per-
formance system inputs. 

(3) The aircraft must be equipped with an 

altitude alert system that signals an alert 

VerDate Sep<11>2014 

16:30 Jun 25, 2019

Jkt 247047

PO 00000

Frm 00869

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8002

Q:\14\14V2.TXT

PC31

kpayne on VMOFRWIN702 with $$_JOB