It essentially boils down to whether or not you have the right gear on board (I.E. TCAS or some such gizmo).
Brett
Couldn't find the exact components in our training but found the things that require write-up and will knock us out of RVSM:
-Any component of the altimetry system (altimeter, air data computer, etc) or altimetry errors in excess of published tolerances or that cause a cockpit alert due to their failure.
-Any component of the autoflight system (autopilot, altitude alert, etc)
-ATC Transponder.
And found this gem in the slide show:
Categories of Non-RVSM Aircraft That May Be Accommodated
Subject to FAA approval and clearance, the following categories of Non-RVSM aircraft may operate in Domestic U.S. RVSM airspace provided that they have an operational transponder:
- Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft
- Flights conducted for aircraft certification and development purposes
- Active Air Ambulance flights utilizing a "Lifeguard" call sign
- Aircraft climbing/descending through RVSM flight levels (without intermediate level off) to/from FL's above RVSM airspace
- Foreign State (government) aircraft
Found this in our Ops Manual:
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) Areas and Operations
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) is any airspace or route where air-craft separation is 1,000 ft. (300 m). This airspace is generally FL290 to FL410 inclusive. The altitude floor and ceiling of RVSM airspace are specific to individual areas.
Approval to operate in RVSM airspace requires special operator and aircraft qualification. FedEx crews and aircraft are qualified. RVSM approved aircraft are required to be equipped with the following:
- Two independent primary altimeters.
- An altitude alerting system.
- An automatic altitude control system (autopilot with altitude hold).
- A Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) transponder with an altitude reporting system that can be connected to either altitude measurement system (Mode C or S transponder).
If required RVSM equipment fails before entering, or during flight within, RVSM airspace, the crew must inform ATC immediately.