Aircraft Separation Minimums

[JRichardson711]

I'm wondering what the aircraft separation minimums are that controllers must abide by? I would assume they vary according to weather (VFR/IFR), class of air space, and other factors. This may be useful when stacked up #5 for final. Thank you.

[Seggy]

[PilotChip]

To be honest, there's TOO MUCH to read about separation. Your best bet would be to...

Give an example of what situation you want to know the sep.
or
Provide a specific question about a sep. rule.

I'm guessing you're wondering about final approach sep. In this case it varies by size of a/c etc... Radar controllers can give an explanation on final approach sep.

From a basic tower perspective, vfr is vfr is vfr = see and avoid. Even though a tower radar display can assist a local controller in providing traffic information, it's ultimately the pilot's responsibility to separate him/her self from other traffic.

[rickyrhodesii]

Like Chip said, separation depends on lots of variables...aircraft weight class, on an instrument approach, distance from the radar antenna, RVSM airspace/aircraft...

I'll give you the standard 1000' vertically or 3 nautical miles if you're less than 40 miles of the radar antenna or 5 NM outside of 40 miles.

Clear as mud right?!? I just go to work and give 'em 1000' and 3 or 5!

If you want to read more, read this FAAO 7110.65 Section 5 Radar Separation.

[madmax]

Originally Posted by rickyrhodesii

I'll give you the standard 1000' vertically or 3 nautical miles if you're less than 40 miles of the radar antenna or 5 NM outside of 40 miles.

I read that as as either 40nm or 45nm, and thought "Leave it up to the FAA to not just say 'within 45nm.'"

How close are aircraft when that alarm thing starts going off?

[PilotChip]

Originally Posted by madmax

I read that as as either 40nm or 45nm, and thought "Leave it up to the FAA to not just say 'within 45nm.'"

How close are aircraft when that alarm thing starts going off?

You misread... what he meant was:

3 miles lateral if the a/c are less then 40nm from the center of the radar sweep.

5 miles lateral if the a/c are 40nm or greater from the center of the radar sweep.

Also,
separation from other airspace boundaries/sectors is 1.5nm on each side of the boundary line if within 40.

2.5nm on each side if 40 or more, like above.

[Omdahl]

Here are some wake turbulence separation rules:

e. Separate aircraft operating directly behind, or directly behind and less than 1,000 feet below, or following an aircraft conducting an instrument approach by:

NOTE-
1. When applying wake turbulence separation criteria, directly behind means an aircraft is operating within 2500 feet of the flight path of the leading aircraft over the surface of the earth.

2. Consider parallel runways less than 2,500 feet apart as a single runway because of the possible effects of wake turbulence.

1. Heavy behind heavy- 4 miles.

2. Large/heavy behind B757- 4 miles.

3. Small behind B757- 5 miles.

4. Small/large behind heavy - 5 miles.

f. TERMINAL. In addition to subpara e, separate an aircraft landing behind another aircraft on the same runway, or one making a touch-and-go, stop-and-go, or low approach by ensuring the following minima will exist at the time the preceding aircraft is over the landing threshold:

NOTE-
Consider parallel runways less than 2,500 feet apart as a single runway because of the possible effects of wake turbulence.

1. Small behind large- 4 miles.

2. Small behind B757- 5 miles.

3. Small behind heavy- 6 miles.