FAR 91.706 — RVSM Airspace Operations

FAR 91.706 governs how U.S.-registered civil aircraft may operate in Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) airspace — the high-altitude airspace (generally FL290–FL410) where aircraft are separated vertically by only 1,000 feet instead of 2,000 feet, allowing more efficient use of cruise altitudes.

To legally fly in RVSM airspace, two things must be true:

• The operator and aircraft must meet the requirements of Appendix G of Part 91, which covers aircraft equipment, altitude-keeping performance, maintenance programs, and pilot training.
• The operator must be authorized by the Administrator (the FAA) to conduct RVSM operations. Historically this came as an LOA, though many modern aircraft now qualify under updated pathways.

The FAA may authorize a deviation from these requirements under Section 5 of Appendix G — for example, to allow a non-RVSM aircraft to climb or descend through RVSM airspace.

This matters operationally because flying in RVSM airspace without compliance is a regulatory violation and a real safety issue: tight 1,000-foot vertical spacing depends on every aircraft holding altitude precisely.