ICAO: SEPARATION METHODS & MINIMA Compiled By: ASIF SOOMRO ATCO, JIAP KHI

AREA CONTROL PROCEDURAL SEPARATION

VERTICAL SEPARATION
CVSM: A nominal of 1000ft below FL290 and a nominal of 2000ft at or above FL290 RVSM: A nominal of 1000ft below FL410 and a nominal of 2000ft at or above FL410

HORIZONTAL SEPARATION
LATERAL LONGITUDINAL
LONGITUDINAL SEPARATION BASED ON TIME
AIRCRAFT MAINTAINING THE SAME LEVEL AIRCRAFT CLIMBING OR DESCENDING

a) VOR: Both the aircraft are established on AIRCRAFT FLYING ON THE SAME TRACK: AIRCRAFT FLYING ON THE SAME TRACK:
radials DIVERGING by at least 15 degrees and a) 15 minutes; a) 15 minutes, while vertical separation doesn’t exist;
at least one aircraft is at a distance of 15NM b) 10 minutes, if NavAids permit frequent b) 10 minutes while vertical separation doesn’t exist,
or more from the facility. determination of position & speed; provided that such separation is authorized only
c) 5 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is where ground-based NavAids or GNSS permit
b) NDB: Both the aircraft are established on maintaining a TAS of 20KTs or more faster frequent determination of position & speed;
tracks to or from NDB which are DIVERGING than the succeeding aircraft, in the following c) 5 minutes while vertical separation doesn’t exist,
by at least 30 degrees and at least one aircraft cases: provided that:
is at a distance of 15NM or more from the 1) Between ACFT that have departed from 1) The level change is commenced within 10
facility. the same aerodrome; minutes of the time the second aircraft has
2) Between en-route ACFT that have reported over a common point defined by
reported over the same exact significant NavAid or GNSS; and
c) GNSS/GNSS: Each aircraft is confirmed to point; 2) When issuing the clearance through CPDLC a
be established on a track with zero offset
3) Between departing & en-route ACFT after restriction shall be added to ensure that the
between two waypoints and at least one
aircraft is at minimum distance from a the en-route ACFT has reported over a fix 10-minute condition is satisfied
common point that is so located in relation to the AIRCRAFT FLYING ON THE CROSSING TRACK:
departure point as to ensure that 5- a) 15 minutes while vertical separation doesn’t exist;
minute separation can be established at b) 10 minutes while vertical separation doesn’t exist if
Angular the point the departing ACFT will join the NavAids permit frequent determination of position
Distance FL
Difference air route; & speed;
15NM FL010-FL190 d) 3 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is AIRCRAFT FLYING ON THE RECIPROCAL TRACK:
150-1350
23NM FL200-FL600 maintaining a TAS of 40KTs or more faster Where lateral separation is not provided, vertical
than the succeeding aircraft, in the cases separation shall be provided for at least 10 minutes
listed under c) prior to and after the time the aircraft are
d) VOR/GNSS: The aircraft using VOR is AIRCRAFT FLYING ON THE CROSSING TRACK: estimated to pass, or estimated to have passed
established on a radial to or from the VOR and a) 15 minutes; each other.
the other aircraft using GNSS is confirmed to b) 10 minutes, if NavAids permit frequent
be established on a track with zero offset determination of position & speed;
between two waypoints and at least one
aircraft is at a minimum distance from a
common point LONGITUDINAL SEPARATION BASED ON DME AND/OR GNSS
AIRCRAFT AT THE SAME CRUISING LEVEL AIRCRAFT CLIMBING AND DESCENDING

Angular AIRCRAFT ON THE SAME TRACK: AIRCRAFT ON THE SAME TRACK:

Distance FL
Difference
a) 20NM, provided: 10NM while vertical separation doesn’t exist,
15NM FL010-FL190
150-1350 1) Each ACFT utilizes: provided:
23NM FL200-FL600
i) The same “on-track” DME station 1) Each ACFT utilizes:
when both are utilizing DME i) The same “on-track” DME station when both
NOTE: ii) An “on-track” DME station & a are utilizing DME
1. Before applying GNSS-based track collocated waypoint when one ACFT ii) An “on-track” DME station & a collocated
separation, the controller shall confirm is utilizing DME & other GNSS waypoint when one ACFT is utilizing DME &
the following: iii) The same waypoint when both ACFT other GNSS
are utilizing GNSS; and iii) The same waypoint when both ACFT are
a) Ensure that the aircraft is navigating 2) Separation is checked by obtaining utilizing GNSS
using GNSS; and simultaneous DME/GNSS readings from 2) One ACFT maintains a level while vertical
b) In airspace where SLOPs are ACFT at frequent intervals to ensure that separation doesn’t exist; and
authorized, that the lateral offset is
the minimum will not be infringed 3) Separation is established by obtaining
not being applied.
b) 10NM, provided: simultaneous DME/GNSS readings from the
2. GNSS-based track separation shall not be 1) The leading ACFT maintains a TAS of ACFT
applied in cases pilot-reported receiver 20KTs or more faster AIRCRAFT ON RECIPROCAL TRACK:
autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) 2) Each ACFT utilizes: Aircraft utilizing on-track DME &/or collocated
outages i) As listed under 1) i), ii) & iii) waypoint or same waypoint may be cleared to
3) Separation is checked by obtaining climb/descend through the levels occupied by the
3. For a minimum spacing between tracks simultaneous DME/GNSS readings from other aircraft utilizing on-track DME &/or
50NM, a navigational performance of ACFT at such intervals as are necessary to collocated waypoint or same waypoint, provided
RNAV10 (RNP10), RNP4 or RNP2 shall be ensure that the minimum is established that:
prescribed; and will not be infringed it has been positively established that the ACFT
have passed each other and are at least 10NM
apart
4. For a minimum spacing between tracks
23NM, a navigational performance of
RNP4 or RNP2 shall be prescribed; LONGITUDINAL SEPARATION BASED ON MACH NO TECHNIQUE
1) 10 minutes
5. For a minimum spacing between tracks 2) Between 9 and 5 minutes inclusive, provided that:
15NM, a navigational performance of
- 9 minutes, if the preceding ACFT is Mach 0.02 faster;
RNP2 or a GNSS equipage shall be
- 8 minutes, if the preceding ACFT is Mach 0.03 faster;
prescribed;
- 7 minutes, if the preceding ACFT is Mach 0.04 faster;
- 6 minutes, if the preceding ACFT is Mach 0.05 faster;
- 5 minutes, if the preceding ACFT is Mach 0.06 faster;