What equipment is required in RVSM airspace?

In Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) airspace, maintaining precise altitude measurements is crucial to ensure safe separation between aircraft that fly at altitudes between FL290 and FL410. The requirement for two independent altitude measurement systems stems from the need to enhance the accuracy of altitude reporting and to provide a safeguard against equipment failure.

With two systems in place, if one altitude measurement system fails or provides erroneous data, the other can still provide reliable altitude information, ensuring that the aircraft maintains its assigned altitude safely. This redundancy is essential in RVSM airspace to prevent incidents that could arise from misreported altitudes, thereby maintaining safe vertical separation between aircraft operating in densely populated air corridors.

Thus, the requirement for two independent altitude measurement systems is a critical safety feature in RVSM operations, emphasized in international aviation regulations to enhance the overall safety and efficiency of air traffic management.