General 3 Separation

Question 1

Between which aircraft shall standard vertical or horizontal separation be applied?

Answer 1

(1) all flights in Class A airspace
(2) IFR flights in Class C, D and E airspace
(3) IFR flights and VFR flights in Class C airspace
(4) IFR flights and SVFR flights
(5) SVFR flights, except where a reduction is authorised by the CAA

Question 2

When shall separation standards be increased?

Answer 2

• Requested by the pilot
• Acontroller considers it necessary
• Directed by the CAA

Question 3

When may RSVA be applied?

Answer 3

• Each aircraft is visible to the ATCO and adequate separation can be assured
• The pilots report that they can maintain their own separation
• When one aircraft is following another, the pilot of the following aircraft reports the preceding aircraft is in sight and they can maintain their own separation

Question 4

Are SAR aircraft allowed to operate with reduced separation, to for example, escort an aircraft in an emergency?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

What are the ATCO actions in the event of a Loss of Separation?

Answer 5

• Use every means to regain separation ASAP
• If practicable, pass traffic information

Question 6

What information should be passed when giving Traffic Information?

Answer 6

• Clock Bearing or compass point if turning
• Distance
• Direction of traffic
• Height information

Question 7

When can 1 minute departure separation be applied for two aircraft departing from the same runway?

Answer 7

Provided that the aircraft fly on tracks diverging by 45° or more immediately after take-off

Question 8

When can 2 minute departure separation be applied for two aircraft departing from the same runway?

Answer 8

• Preceding aircraft is 40 knots or more faster
• Neither aircraft will execute any manoeuvre that would decrease separation

Question 9

When can 5 minute departure separation be applied for two aircraft departing from the same runway?

Answer 9

• The preceding aircraft is 20 knots or more faster

OR

Provided 5 minutes separation will be maintained until a nearby reporting point where the aircraft will then be separated either
* Vertically
* By Tracks diverging by 30° or more
* By ATS Surveillance

Question 10

What is the standard departure separation to be applied for two aircraft departing from the same runway if no reductions apply?

Answer 10

10 minutes

Question 11

Describe Wake Turbulence vs Wake Vortex

Answer 11

Wake Vortex
Rotating air masses generated behind the wing tips of aircraft

Wake Turbulence
The effect of those rotating air masses

Question 12

When are wake vortices produced by fixed-wings and helicopters?

Answer 12

Fixed-Wing
From when the nose wheel lifts for take-off until the nose wheel touches down for landing

Helicopter
Forward Flight, Hover and Hover Taxi

Question 13

Which combinations of speed and weight of an aircraft produce the most vortex?

Answer 13

Heavy and slow aircraft produce the strongest vortex

Question 14

Per kg of mass, which produces more vortex, helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft?

Answer 14

There is some evidence that, per kilogram of gross mass, the wake turbulence generated by a helicopter is more intense than that of a fixed-wing aircraft.

Question 15

What distance is a pilot suggested to leave between their aircraft and a helicopter hovering/hover taxiing?

Answer 15

3 diameters of the helicopters rotor

Question 16

Are aircraft flying visually to be wake separated by the ATCO?

Answer 16

No the PIC is responsible for the wake separation when flying visually

However, ATCO must inform PIC of the recommended wake separation

Question 17

What is the approach wake turbulence minima distance to be applied for aircraft following a Super?

Answer 17

Following a Super:
Heavy - 5NM
U/L Medium - 7NM
Small - 7NM
Light - 8NM

Question 18

What is the approach wake turbulence minima distance to be applied for aircraft following a Heavy?

Answer 18

Following a Heavy:
Heavy - 4NM
U/L Medium - 5NM
Small - 6NM
Light - 7NM

Question 19

What is the approach wake turbulence minima distance to be applied for aircraft following a Upper Medium?

Answer 19

Following an Upper Medium:
Upper Medium - 3NM
Lower Medium - 4NM
Small - 5NM
Light - 6NM

Question 20

What is the approach wake turbulence minima distance to be applied for aircraft following a Lower Medium?

Answer 20

Following a Lower Medium:
Small - 3NM
Light - 5NM

Question 21

What is the approach wake turbulence minima distance to be applied for aircraft following a Small?

Answer 21

Following a Small:
Small - 3NM
Light - 4NM

Question 22

When should wake turbulence between successive departures be applied?

Answer 22

When aircraft are using;
* The same runway; or
* Parallel runways separated by less than 760 m; or crossing runways if the projected flight paths will cross at the same altitude or less than 1,000 ft below
* Parallel runways separated by 760 m or more,if the projected flight paths will cross at the same altitude or less than 1,000 ft below

Question 23

What departure separation should be applied behind a Super, when the aircraft is departing from the same position or a parallel runway separated by less than 760m?

Answer 23

Following a Super
Heavy - 2 minutes
Medium - 3 minutes
Small - 3 minutes
Light - 3 minutes

Question 24

What departure separation should be applied behind a Heavy, when the aircraft is departing from the same position or a parallel runway separated by less than 760m?

Answer 24

Following a Heavy
Heavy - 4NM or time equivalent (0 at Gatwick)
Medium - 2 minutes
Small - 2 minutes
Light - 2 minutes

Question 25

What departure separation should be applied behind a Medium/Small, when the aircraft is departing from the same position or a parallel runway separated by less than 760m?

Answer 25

Following a Medium/Small
Light - 2 minutes

Question 26

What departure separation should be applied behind a Super, when the aircraft is departing from an intermediate point or an intermediate point on a parallel runway separated by less than 760m?

Answer 26

Following a Super
Heavy - 3 minutes
Medium - 4 minutes
Small - 4 minutes
Light - 4 minutes

Question 27

What departure separation should be applied behind a Heavy, when the aircraft is departing from an intermediate point or an intermediate point on a parallel runway separated by less than 760m?

Answer 27

Following a Heavy
Heavy - 4NM or time equivalent
Medium - 3 minutes
Small - 3 minutes
Light - 3 minutes

Question 28

What departure separation should be applied behind a Medium/Small, when the aircraft is departing from an intermediate point or an intermediate point on a parallel runway separated by less than 760m?

Answer 28

Following a Medium/Small
Light - 3 minutes

Question 29

Can an ATCO reduce wake turbulence separation at pilot request?

Answer 29

No

Question 30

What wake must be applied when a Super aircraft is making a low or missed approach and the following aircraft is taking off or landing in the opposite direction on the same runway, or one separated by less than 760m?

Answer 30

Following a Super low or missed approach
Heavy - 3 minutes
Medium - 4 minutes
Small - 4 minutes
Light - 4 minutes

Question 31

What wake must be applied when a Heavy aircraft is making a low or missed approach and the following aircraft is taking off or landing in the opposite direction on the same runway, or one separated by less than 760m?

Answer 31

Following a Heavy low or missed approach
Medium - 3 minutes
Small - 3 minutes
Light - 3 minutes

Question 32

What wake must be applied when a Medium/Small aircraft is making a low or missed approach and the following aircraft is taking off or landing in the opposite direction on the same runway, or one separated by less than 760m?

Answer 32

Following a Medium/Small low or missed approach
Light - 3 minutes