Alexban
I was referring to the technical requirement for the establishment of ATC procedures under ICAO. You are of course quite right, as long as they both fly either track or heading, separation should be maintained.
A departure will typically be following a SID and therefore flying a track. In order to separate a simultaneous go-around from an adjacent runway, it too should be issued a track (or a heading that accounts for the drift).
No confusion - if you are trying to separate against established procedures, track will always work, heading might not unless drift is allowed for.
I was once involved in an incident where a B767 was launched 1 minute behind a Concorde off 09R at Heathrow. The book says the Tower can only use one minute if both aircraft follow the same track. I had issued 240degree headings to both of them and did not expect to get them one mintue apart. Of course, the B767 cut the corner and they met just south of Heathrow, same level. Track is safest.
Point 4
Last edited by 120.4; 12th July 2006 at 13:06.