Above FL290, what is the standard vertical separation required between aircraft?

The correct answer is that the standard vertical separation required between aircraft above FL290 is 1,000 feet, provided the aircraft are RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum) equipped. RVSM airspace is designed to improve the efficiency of air traffic management by allowing aircraft to fly at closer vertical spacing.

In RVSM airspace, aircraft that are equipped and certified can be safely separated by 1,000 feet instead of the general requirement of 2,000 feet, which applies to non-RVSM equipped aircraft. This allows for more optimal use of the available airspace and can lead to reduced delays and more efficient flight paths.

Aircraft that do not meet the RVSM requirements must adhere to the standard 2,000 feet of vertical separation to ensure safety, given their inability to maintain the necessary altitude precision that RVSM allows. This distinction is critical in air traffic control, as it affects flight planning and airspace management in the upper levels of the atmosphere.