AA5342 Down DCA

[Stagformation]

Originally Posted by ignorantAndroid

No, they're exactly the same. If you say "traffic in sight" then the controller will immediately say "Maintain visual separation."

"Request visual separation" is non-standard.


https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publ...section_2.html

Absolutely, it was a non-standard discourse. But however you look at what was said, PAT 25 requested the change to visual separation. Meaning PAT25 correctly believed he was under standard 1.5nm/500ft separation at the time and that he needed LC approval for Visual separation to be applied. The change in the separation standard being applied did not happen until the LC accepted PAT 25’s traffic visual report and authorised the change. It’s not an automatic change made just on the pilot’s say so, ie by reporting visual, which I think is what you may be implying (happy if you correct me). Both pilot and LC are necessary (and both made errors here).