Longitudinal Separation under radar control?
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2009
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From: SI
Longitudinal Separation under radar control?
Hi,
could please anyone clarify me the required longitudinal separation between aircrafts in cruise flying the same track when under radar control?
(A reference will be greatly appreciated)
Thanks.
could please anyone clarify me the required longitudinal separation between aircrafts in cruise flying the same track when under radar control?
(A reference will be greatly appreciated)
Thanks.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: London FIR
For the UK, have a look here:
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP493Part1cor.pdf
CAP 493 - Manual Of Air Traffic Services (MATS), Part 1.
Section 1 (Air Traffic Services)
Chapter 3 (Separation Standards)
It doesn't give much away as it would ultimately be laid down in the controlling unit's MATS Part 2, or in the case of the Military. Military Manual of Air Traffic Management (MMATM).
AFAIR its 5nm in most places and some areas its increased to 10nm because of radar coverage.
I hope that helps.
MM
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP493Part1cor.pdf
CAP 493 - Manual Of Air Traffic Services (MATS), Part 1.
Section 1 (Air Traffic Services)
Chapter 3 (Separation Standards)
It doesn't give much away as it would ultimately be laid down in the controlling unit's MATS Part 2, or in the case of the Military. Military Manual of Air Traffic Management (MMATM).
AFAIR its 5nm in most places and some areas its increased to 10nm because of radar coverage.
I hope that helps.
MM
Guest
Posts: n/a
It's not set down as a longitudinal (or anything else) separation when using radar - aircraft are just kept apart by a minimum distance. The standard is 5 NM but in areas of poor radar cover or if the aircraft is a long way from the radar head the distance might be increased, sometimes the increase might be in the lateral plane only because the positional accuracy of the return is reduced in such circumstances - for the old timers amongst us this is saying much the same as 'the blips get huge!'
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 271
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From: New Zealand
There are lots of separation standards used around the world depending on equipment and circumstances. We use 3, 5, 8 and 16nm in our airspace, depending on which radars we are using and what mode of radar display is being used. But you'd be a brave/stupid controller to use 5nm behind an A380 or B757 in the cruise; never forget wake turbulence separation. You'll get complaints from some pilots even when you are applying the required minimum separation if they feel the bumps.
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Adrift upon the tides of fate
Regardless of the required separation, spacing in the cruise will also be governed by intra and inter-unit agreements. Even if, say, 5nm can be used within a unit, you will usually find a larger in-trail spacing is required between units (or sectors within a unit). This can be 10nm, 20nm, 30nm etc. (or anything) and is the usual determinant when setting up longitudinal spacing in the cruise.
