What is the FAA's rule on the vertical distance between two in flight commercial aircraft?

Question

What is the FAA's rule on the vertical distance between two in flight commercial aircraft?

Answer 1

It depends on what altitude the intersection occurs and then, if the aircraft is RVSM qualified.

The goal of RVSM is to reduce the vertical separation above flight level (FL) 290 from the current 2000-ft minimum to 1000-ft minimum. This will allow aircraft to safely fly more optimum profiles, gain fuel savings and increase airspace capacity. The process of safely changing this separation standard requires a study to assess the actual performance of airspace users under the current separation (2000-ft) and potential performance under the new standard (1000-ft). In 1988, the ICAO Review of General Concept of Separation Panel (RGCSP) completed this study and concluded that safe implementation of the 1000-ft separation standard was technically feasible.

On January 20, 2005, RVSM was implemented between flight level (FL) 290-410 (inclusive) in the airspace of the lower 48 States of the United States, Alaska, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic High Offshore Airspace (including Houston and Miami Oceanic airspace) and the San Juan FIR.

RVSM was implemented on the same date and at the same flight levels in Canadian Southern Domestic Airspace and in Mexico. (RVSM was implemented in Canadian Northern Domestic Airspace in April 2002).

The RVSM program enables vertical separation to be reduced between FL 290-410 (inclusive) from 2,000 ft. to 1,000 ft. RVSM was first implemented in North Atlantic Airspace in 1997. It is now implemented in other major airspaces such as Europe, the Pacific Ocean and Australia.

DRVSM provides user and provider benefits in domestic U.S. operations that have been enjoyed since 1997 in other world airspaces. RVSM makes six additional flight levels available for operations between FL 290-410. It enhances aircraft operating efficiency by making more fuel/time efficient flight levels available; enhances air traffic control flexibility and provides the potential for enhanced enroute airspace capacity.

Answer 2

It depends on how the aircraft is classified.

If its HEAVY (e.g. Boeing 747) I think the designation is at least 1000ft above and 2000ft below due to wake turbulence.

Sorry not sure about any others.

Answer 3

The 'Quadrantal Height Separation System' keeps all the aircraft safely separated.

Answer 4

1000ft minimum. beware the dallas bump up.

Answer 5

The FAA will give two aircraft flying towards each other 1,000ft clearance above and below each other. This is a international standard that most countries follow that are members of the UN and of the ICAO.

Answer 6

Most Commercial Aircraft will be operating above 18000 feet msl in altitude and therefore required to be on an IFR flight plan and under ATC guidance. It used to be one thousand foot separation in cruising altitudes. I am not positive on this, however I think they are modernizing the system to allow only 500 feet of vertical separations. IFR cruising altitudes are usually in one thousand feet increments, ie, 21,000 or 22,000 and are referred to as flight levels, as in flight level 29 zero, which is 29,000 feet, or flight level 21 zero, or 21,000 feet. Hope this answers your question.