Reduced vertical separation minima

Okay kiddo, you know when you're playing with your toys and you stack them on top of each other? There's a minimum distance between each toy so that they don't fall down or touch each other, right? Well, planes flying in the sky also need to have a minimum distance between them so they don't crash into each other. This is called separation.

Reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM) is when planes are allowed to fly closer to each other vertically, meaning up and down, than before. The distance between two planes used to be 2,000 feet, which is like 400 of your toys stacked on top of each other. Now, with RVSM, the distance is reduced to only 1,000 feet, which is only 200 of your toys stacked on top of each other.

But don't worry, this doesn't mean planes are going to crash into each other! Planes have special equipment and communication systems to make sure they stay a safe distance apart, even with reduced vertical separation. Plus, pilots and air traffic controllers have to follow very strict rules and procedures to keep everyone safe.

So, RVSM is just a way for planes to fly closer together in the sky by reducing the minimum distance between them while still making sure everyone stays safe.