Why does altitude matter?

There are multiple mountains that are surprisingly high and there are other planes to avoid.
And it is actually more efficient to fly at higher altitudes where the air is thinner and overcoming air resistance uses less fuel. All told, there are many good reasons for flying high. But how high, exactly?

Reduced vertical Limit Minima (RVSM) is a new “standard” that Air Data Computers have to comply with in order to be able to fly at certain altitudes and within certain corridors. Air speed is also one key parameter under fly conditions and accurate altitude measurement plays an important role in determining Equivalent Air Speed during the flight. This is because the higher the altitude, the thinner the air, and the faster an aircraft must travel through the air mass to obtain the same Equivalent Air Speed.

MEMSCAP pressure sensors and transducers actually provide with the necessary accuracy and long term drift to design RVSM compliant Air Data Computers. They exhibit excellent Mean Time Before Failure data and are proven to be compliant with the harsher environments.