AIrCRAFT SEPARATION
 

Next week i have i have an interview with NATS. I am wondering if someone could please tell me the The Separation Standards in the different levels of airspace and different types of airspace. Keep reading different answers and want a correct and up to date answer please. Thank you for all your help

Standard Separation applies betweens

a) All flights in Class A and B airspace
b) IFR Flights in Class C and D airspace
C) IFR and VFR in Class C airpsace
d) IFR and Special VFR flights
e) Special VFR Flights
f) Participating IFR flights in class F airspace
g) IFR flights in class G airspace being provided with an approach control service
h) A/c participating in Radar Advisory Service.

As far as standard seperation, i'll cover below FL245 coz I can't remember the RVSM stuff!

Analogue Radar Data:

3 Miles - When authorised below FL245
5 Miles - In Azimuth (side 2 side) - Between centes of radar returns and the returns do not overlap
5 Miles - In Range - Both a/c must be in coverage from same radar source


Plot Extracted data:
3 Miles - When authorised below FL245
5 Miles - In Azimuth - Both a/c within 80NM of known radar source
5 Miles - In range - Both a/c must be in coverage from same radar source
10 Miles - One or both aircraft outside 80 miles from single source but may be reduced by Authority.


I will be amazed if you are expected to know any of that for a board but, i think thats ure answer!

TIO

Do people applying for NATS interviews actually have to know everything that the various courses are intended to teach? I wonder sometimes just what is expected. The selection tests should be to determine suitability not to see whether the person already knows it all?

If asked about separation rules then, in my view, it ought to be enough to be able to say that there are vertical and horizontal separation minima.

Vertical is basically 1000ft but more in some circumstances.

Horizontal separation (i.e. for aircraft at the same level) can be determined by "procedural" methods or by radar. Procedural methods are based on aircraft flying on different parallel or diverging tracks or, for aircraft on the same track, by time. Radar separation is basically 5 nautical miles but may in some circumstances be 3nm.

Separation standards is a minefield! The interview shouldn't go into too much detail but it's always good to know more than you need to. Turn It Off has posted the Radar Separation standards but there is also non-radar separation.
Check out MATS Pt.1 Section 1 Chapter 3 ( http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP493PART1.PDF ) for a more comprehensive description.

Good luck with your interview! :ok:

Agreed with the above.

I would hope an interviewer would not ask you specific distances/times (you mention in another thread you have an interview for Oceanic which would be more time based separation standards) as there are so many. If he/she did, that would be very harsh indeed.

As Peatair says, vertical or lateral separation using either distance or time should be sufficient.

Good luck :ok:

Thanks ver much for all yor help guys and time. i really appreciate it