410 To clarify my original point.
: I don't believe anyone in his right mind would suggest pilots should stick in an offset if being radar vectored. You don't neccesarily to have to be radar vectored for the controller to consider your track. Some examples. You have just departed via a SID. The SID is designed to keep you away from the corresponding STAR. You offset 1nm right. The guy opposite to you on the STAR offsets 1nm right and you find yourself 2nm closer to each other (depending on how the SID/STAR routes are designed).
You depart on a SID there is only one bit other bit off trafic you conflict with. The controller leaves you on the SID for a while (intending to give you direct once there is sufficent separation with the other aircraft) and sees that you are going to slide 5nm past the other aircraft, now you are passing through 10000ft and so you put your offset in. Oh sh!t not going to pass after all.
You depart on a SID there is no other traffic so it is cancelled and you are given direct to your first enroute waypoint. Do you offset?
Tin Pusher comments that he wouldn't notice 1nm offsets and may assume pilots are having trouble navigating. I disagree. I can see what nav equipment you are carrying in your flight plan. If you don't have GPS/IRS then I will cut you some more slack, but if you do a 1nm offset will be obvious. on radar.
You ask if less than 5nm is used anywhere else other than in the terminal area. Apart from visual separation I can give one other instance. This is going to be a little difficult to explain but I will give it my best shot.
Aicraft 1 is tracking north bound. Acft 2 south bound. They are tracking via a VOR at A. There is 15degrees between their nominal tracks. According to lateral separation prinicipals these aircraft are considered to be separated at 15nm from VOR A. At which point the two aircraft will nominally be 3.9nm from each other. Now assuming you are both offsetting 1nm to the right you will now pass 1.9nm from each other. Do you still want to offset over land when I am going to be making decisions like this.
Like I have said before. I don't really have a problem with you offsetting over the ocean but please consider what I have said above before you do it in radar coverage or over land.
Cheers
WA
fixed image link.
[This message has been edited by willadvise (edited 05 December 2000).]