Reduced vertical separation minima or minimum (RVSM) is the reduction of the standard

vertical separation required between aircraft flying between FL290 (29,000 ft) and FL410
(41,000 ft) inclusive, from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet (or between 8,850 and 12,500 m from 600 m to
300 m). This therefore increases the number of aircraft that can safely fly in a particular volume
of airspace.
In 1958 the standard vertical separation was set to 1,000 feet from the surface to FL290, and
2,000 feet above FL290. This was because the accuracy of the pressure altimeter (used to
determine altitude) decreases with height. Work on reducing this to 1,000 feet at all levels began
almost immediately, but it was not until the 1990s that air data computers (ADCs), altimeters and
autopilots became sufficiently accurate to make this a reality