part 7. principles of separation

Part 7. Principles of separation

Vertical SeparationVertical separation is obtained by requiring aircraft using prescribed altimeter setting procedures to operate at different levels expressed in terms of flight levels or altitudes.

Vertical separation minimum (VSM):

a) a nominal 300 m (1 000 ft) below FL 290 and a nominal 600 m (2 000 ft) at or above this level, except as provided for in b) below; and

b) within designated airspace, subject to a regional air navigation agreement: a nominal 300 m (1 000 ft) below FL 410 or a higher level where so prescribed for use under specified conditions, and a nominal 600 m (2 000 ft) at or above this level.

Flight Level = 1013.2

Altitude = QNH

Vertical Separation

No clearance shall be given to execute anymanoeuvre that would reduce the spacing betweentwo aircraft to less than the separation minimum

applicable in the circumstances

Larger separations than the specified minima shouldbe applied whenever wake turbulence or

exceptional circumstances such as unlawfulinterference call for extra precautions. This should be

done with due regard to all relevant factors soas to avoid impeding the flow of air

traffic by the application of excessiveseparations.

Minimum cruising level• Cruising levels below the Minimum Flight Altitudes (MFA’s) established by the State shall not be assigned without specific authority of the appropriate authority• Area Control Centres (ACC’s) shall:

- determine the lowest useable flight level (or levels) for the whole (or parts) of the control area for which they are responsible, and

- use it when assigning flight levels, and

- pass it pilots on request

• When an aircraft has been cleared into a centre’s control area at a cruising level which is below the established minimum cruising level for a subsequent portion of the route……...

…….action should be initiated by thatACC to issue a revised clearance to theaircraft…..

….even though the pilot has not requested thenecessary cruising level change.

• When necessary, an aircraft may be cleared to change cruising levels at a specified time, place or rate

• In so far as practicable, cruising levels of aircraft flying to the same destination shall be assigned in a manner that will be correct for an approach sequence at destination

• An aircraft at a cruising level shall normally have priority over other aircraft desiring that cruising level.

• When two or more aircraft are at the same cruising level, the preceding aircraft shall normally have priority

Cruising levels, or in the case of cruise climb,the range of levels, to be assigned to controlled flightsshall be selected from those allocated to IFR flights in:

• The Table of Cruising Levels, or

• A modified Table of Cruising Levels when so prescribed for flight above FL410

Except that the correlation of levels to track shallnot apply whenever otherwise indicated in:

• appropriate AIP’s, or

• ATC clearances

From 000 degrees to 179 degrees **(magnetic)

From 180 degrees to 359 degrees**(magnetic)

-90 10 30 50 70 90

300900

1 5002 1502 750

1 0003 0005 0007 0009 000

IFR Flights

FL Metres FeetAltitude

110130150170190

210230250270290

330370

410450490

3 3503 9504 5505 2005 800

6 4007 0007 6008 2508 850

11 00013 00015 00017 00019 000

21 00023 00025 00027 00029 000

10 05011 300

33 00037 000

12 50013 70014 950

41 00045 00049 000

--

35557595

--

1 0501 7002 3002 900

--

3 5005 5007 5009 500

VFR Flights


115135155175195

3 5004 1004 7005 3505 950

11 50013 50015 50017 50019 500

215235255275300

6 5507 1507 7508 4009 150

21 50023 50025 50027 50030 000

340380

10 35011 600

34 00038 000

420460500

12 80014 00015 250

42 00046 00050 000

020406080

100

6001 2001 8502 4503 050

2 0004 0006 0008 000

10 000

IFR Flights


120140160180200

3 6504 2504 9005 5006 100

12 00014 00016 00018 00020 000

220240260280310

6 7007 3007 9008 5509 450

22 00024 00026 00028 00031 000

350390

10 65011 900

35 00039 000

430470510

13 10014 35015 550

43 00047 00051 000

- -

456585

105

- -1 3502 0002 6003 200

- -

4 5006 5008 500

10 500

VFR Flights


125145165185205

3 8004 4005 0505 6506 250

12 50014 50016 50018 50020 500

225245265285320

6 8507 4508 1008 7009 750

22 50024 50026 50028 50032 000

360400

10 95012 200

36 00040 000

440480520

13 40014 65015 850

44 00048 00052 000

TABLE OF CRUISING LEVELS

Lateral Separation shall be applied so thatthe distance between those portions of the

intended routes for which aircraft are to be laterallyseparated is never less than an established distance

to account for navigational inaccuraciesplus a specified buffer

Note: In the minima specified in the following section, an appropriate buffer has already been included

• The buffer shall be determined by the appropriate authority in the lateral separation minima as an integral part thereof

HORIZONTAL SEPARATION (LATERAL)

Lateral Separation of aircraft at the same levelis obtained by requiring operation:

• On different routes, or

• In different geographical locations as determined by:

- visual observation, or

- by use of navigation aids, or

- by use of area navigation equipment

Geographical Separation is separation positivelyindicated by position reports over different geographical

locations as determined:

• visually, or

• by reference to a navigation aid


Track Separation between aircraft using thesame navigation aid or method is separation achieved

by requiring aircraft to fly on specified tracks whichare separated by a minimum amount appropriate to

the navigation aid,

• VOR

• NDB


VOR:• At least 15 degrees between tracks, and• At a distance of 28km/15nm or more

from the facility

28km/15nm

15º

NDB:

28km/15nm

30º

• At least 30 degrees between tracks, and• At a distance of 28km/15nm or more

from the facility

HORIZONTAL SEPARATION (LONGITUDINAL)

Longitudinal Separation shall be applied so thatthe spacing between the estimated positions

of the aircraft being separated is never less than a prescribed minimum.

• Longitudinal separation between aircraft following the same or diverging tracks may be maintained by application of the Mach number technique, when so prescribed on the basis of regional air navigation agreement.

Longitudinal Separation shall be established byrequiring aircraft to:

• Depart at a specified time, or

• To lose time to arrive over a geographical location at a specified time

• To hold over a geographical location until a specified time

For the purpose of application of Longitudinal Separation, the terms:

• Same Track

• Reciprocal Tracks

• Crossing Tracks

…...shall have the following meanings…...

Same TrackSame direction tracks and intersecting tracks

(or portions thereof), the angular difference of whichis less than 45º or more than 315º, and whose

protection areas overlap

44º

44º

270ºtrack

250ºtrack 44º

44º

270ºtrack

250ºtrack

<45º

>315º

44º

44º

44º

44º

Reciprocal TracksOpposite direction tracks and intersecting tracks

(or portions thereof), the angular difference of whichis more than 135º or less than 225º, and whose

protection areas overlap

270ºtrack

070ºtrack

<225º

270ºtrack

070ºtrack>135º

44º

44º

44º

44º

44º

44º

44º

44º

Crossing TracksIntersecting tracks (or portions thereof),

the angular difference of whichis other than those specified for Same Track

or Reciprocal Tracks

270ºtrack

360º track

270ºtrack

360º track

Aircraft at same cruising levelAircraft flying on the same track

15 minutes

15 minutes

….or,

Longitudinal separation based on time

Navaid

Navaid

10 minutes if navigation aids permitfrequent determination of position and speed

….or,

10 minutes


Aerodrome

5 minutes (in each of the following cases)provided the preceding aircraft is maintaininga TAS of 37km/h (20kts) or more faster than

the succeeding aircraft:

• Between aircraft that have departed from the same aerodrome

5 mins

20kts ormore faster


ReportingPoint

• Between aircraft that have reported over the same exact reporting point

5 mins

20kts ormore faster


Aerodrome

3 minutes (in each of the following cases)provided the preceding aircraft is maintaininga TAS of 74km/h (40kts) or more faster than

the succeeding aircraft:

• Between aircraft that have departed from the same aerodrome

3 mins

40kts ormore faster


ReportingPoint

• Between aircraft that have reported over the same exact reporting point

3 mins

40kts ormore faster


Aircraft at the same cruising levelAircraft flying on crossing tracks

15 minutes

15 minutes

….or,


10 minutes

10 minutes

If navigation aids permit frequent determination ofposition and speed.

Aircraft flying on reciprocal tracks

• the time the aircraft are estimated to pass, or• the time the aircraft are estimated to have passed

Where lateral separation is not provided,vertical separation shall be provided for at least

10 minutes prior to and after

• Provided that it has been determined that the aircraft have passed each other, this minimum need not apply

10 min

10 min

Estimated time of passing

Longitudinal separation based on distance

Separation shall be established by maintaining not less than specified distance(s) between aircraft as reported by reference to DME in conjunction with

other appropriate navigation aids.

• Direct controller-pilot communication shall be maintained while such separation is used.

Aircraft at the same cruising levelAircraft flying on the same track

20nm (37km)

20nm (37km)

….or,

Provided:

• Each aircraft utilises “on-track” DME stations

• Checked by simultaneous DME readings from the aircraft at frequent intervals

10nm (19km)

10nm (19km)

Provided:

• Each aircraft utilises “on-track” DME stations• Checked by simultaneous DME readings from the aircraft at frequent intervals

• The leading aircraft maintains a TAS of 20kts (37km/h)or more faster than the succeeding aircraft

20kt (37km/h)or more faster


20nm (37km)Provided:• Each aircraft utilises “on-track” DME stations

• Checked by simultaneous DME readings from the aircraft at frequent intervals

• Each aircraft reports distance from the station located at the crossing point of the tracks

• The relative angle between the tracks is less than 90º

20nm

(37k

m)

….or,

20kt (37km/h)or more faster

10nm

(19k

m)

Aircraft flying on reciprocal tracks

Aircraft utilising “on-track” DME may be clearedto climb or descend to or through levels occupiedby other aircraft utilising “on-track” DME provided:

• it has been positively established that the aircraft have passed each other, and

• are at least 10nm apart (or other such value as prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority)

USE OF ATS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS (RADAR) IN THEAIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICE

FunctionsThe information provided by ATS surveillance systems and presented on a situation display may be used to perform the following functions in the provision of air traffic control service:

• a) provide ATS surveillance services as necessary in order to improve airspace utilization, reduce delays, provide for direct routings and more optimum flight profiles, as well as to enhance safety;

• b) provide vectoring to departing aircraft for the purpose of facilitating an expeditious and efficient departure flow and expediting climb to cruising level;

• c) provide vectoring to aircraft for the purpose of resolving potential conflicts;

USE OF ATS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS (RADAR) IN THEAIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICE

Functions: • d) provide vectoring to arriving aircraft for the purpose of

establishing an expeditious and efficient approach sequence;• e) provide vectoring to assist pilots in their navigation, e.g. to

or from a radio navigation aid, away from or around• areas of adverse weather;• f) provide separation and maintain normal traffic flow when

an aircraft experiences communication failure within• the area of coverage;• g) maintain flight path monitoring of air traffic;• h) when applicable, maintain a watch on the progress of air

traffic, in order to provide a procedural controller with improved position information regarding aircraft under control

RADAR SEPARATION MINIMA

Unless otherwise prescribed, the horizontal separation minimum based on radar and/or ADS-B shall be 9.3 km (5.0 NM).

The following distance-based wake turbulence separation minima shall be applied to aircraft being provided with an ATS surveillance service in the approach and departure phases of flight in the following circumstances:

Aircraft category Preceding A/C Succeeding A/C Distance-based

wake turbulence separation minimaHEAVY HEAVY 7.4 km (4.0 NM)HEAVY MEDIUM 9.3 km (5.0 NM)HEAVY LIGHT 11.1 km (6.0 NM)MEDIUM LIGHT 9.3 km (5.0 NM)

NATIONAL APPLICATION (GEORGIA) OFRADAR SEPARATION MINIMA

ACC Radar Minima - 10nm (Class A,C)APP Radar Minima - 5 nm (Class C)

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part 7. principles of separation

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