AIM — FAA OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE

4-6-5 Pilot RVSM Operating Practices and Procedures

AIM Chapter 4. Air Traffic Control — Section 4-6, Operational Policy/Procedures for Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) in the Domestic U.S., Alaska, Offshore Airspace and the San Juan FIR

Official text — AIM 4-6-5

AIM — FAA OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE

a. RVSM Mandate. If either the operatoris not authorized for RVSM operations or the aircraft is not RVSM-compliant, the pilot will neither request nor accept a clearance into RVSM airspace unless:

1. The flight is conducted by a non-RVSM DoD, MEDEVAC, certification/development or foreign State (government) aircraft in accordance with paragraph 4-6-10, Procedures for Accommodation of Non-RVSM Aircraft.

2. The pilot intends to climb to or descend from FL 430 or above in accordance with paragraph 4-6-11, Non-RVSM Aircraft Requesting Climb to and Descent from Flight Levels Above RVSM Airspace Without Intermediate Level Off.

3. An emergency situation exists.

b. Basic RVSM Operating Practices and Procedures. AC 91-85 contains pilot practices and procedures for RVSM. Operators must incorporate applicable practices and procedures, as supplemented by the applicable paragraphs of this section, into operator training or pilot knowledge programs and operator documents containing RVSM operational policies.

c. AC 91-85 contains practices and procedures for flight planning, preflight procedures at the aircraft, procedures prior to RVSM airspace entry, inflight (en route) procedures, contingency procedures and post flight.

d. The following paragraphs either clarify or supplement AC 91-85 practices and procedures.

Reproduced from the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (Basic (with Change 3)). The AIM is FAA guidance, not regulation. Verify against the official source before relying on it operationally.

Is this a regulation?

No — this is FAA guidance, not a regulation.

Aeronautical Information Manual. FAA operational guidance and recommended practices. The AIM is not regulatory, although it often explains how to comply with regulations.