THE IMPORTANCE OF A PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM IN RVSM CALIBRATION

Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) can be defined as the reduction of vertical separation required for an aircraft flying anywhere between 29,000 ft. and 41,000 ft. RVSM allows aircrafts to fly in the same volume of airspace safely. To ensure overall safety, it is vital that all RVSM equipment is calibrated and operating properly. Accuracy of RVSM equipment starts with the precise calibration of an aircraft’s pitot-static system.

IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF A PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM

Three important components of a pitot-static system that are important for proper RVSM calibration include:

AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

The airspeed indicator is responsible for measuring the difference between the pitot and static pressure entering an aircraft. If an ASI is reading improperly, the airspeed can fluctuate which could then lead to hazardous safety risks.

VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR (VSI)

The vertical speed indicator is responsible for indicating if an aircraft is climbing, descending or in level. Proper calibration of the VSI is extremely important to ensure safety while in flight.

ALTIMETER

The altimeter component is responsible for measuring the height of an aircraft above a give pressure level. If the altimeter is not calibrated, a pilot will not be able to determine altitude, resulting in extremely high safety risks.

IMPORTANCE OF THE PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM

Proper functionality of the pitot-static system and its components is essential when it comes to RVSM calibration. This is because each component making up the pitot-static system plays into determining the vertical separation required for safe flight.

What goes into calibration of a pitot static system?
Read our guide to find out.