Originally Posted by
BFSGrad
Given that the purpose of separation standards is collision avoidance, I don’t understand your distinction. Are you saying that once a pilot declares a go-around, ATC is no longer obligated to apply separation standards?
....................... the NTSB referred to those incidents as loss of separation incidents.
Oh Boy ! not sure how to answer that without going into an ATC lecture. let me try ; In a nutshell , in a last minute go around situation with an aircraft departing below the aircraft going around ATC cannot provide 2 Miles and 1000ft,. What it can do is try prevent metal to metal contact. , hence the side step. Not always easy if you use parallel runways, and you cannot expect an aircraft at VRef to bank 45 degrees either. These are emergency situations .The separation STANDARDS ( 2 or 3 NM / 1000 ft ) cannot be applied .
That the NTSB call this a loss of separation is correct . Because to be in that situation the normal procedures failed . You should have got initially 2,5 or 3 NM longitudinal separation in the first place.
Now, if you clear an aircraft to depart with another one on 2,5 NM finals , you will get a small time margin between lift off at one end and touch down at the other end. If someone f@cks up, ATC or the pilots (delaying departure like in Austin) you may get into an emergency situation .