General 3 Separation Flashcards
Between which aircraft shall standard vertical or horizontal separation be applied?
(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
When shall separation standards be increased?
- Requested by the pilot
- Acontroller considers it necessary
- Directed by the CAA
When may RSVA be applied?
- 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
Are SAR aircraft allowed to operate with reduced separation, to for example, escort an aircraft in an emergency?
Yes
What are the ATCO actions in the event of a Loss of Separation?
- Use every means to regain separation ASAP
- If practicable, pass traffic information
What information should be passed when giving Traffic Information?
- Clock Bearing or compass point if turning
- Distance
- Direction of traffic
- Height information
When can 1 minute departure separation be applied for two aircraft departing from the same runway?
Provided that the aircraft fly on tracks diverging by 45° or more immediately after take-off
When can 2 minute departure separation be applied for two aircraft departing from the same runway?
- Preceding aircraft is 40 knots or more faster
- Neither aircraft will execute any manoeuvre that would decrease separation
When can 5 minute departure separation be applied for two aircraft departing from the same runway?
- 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
What is the standard departure separation to be applied for two aircraft departing from the same runway if no reductions apply?
10 minutes
Describe Wake Turbulence vs Wake Vortex
Wake Vortex
Rotating air masses generated behind the wing tips of aircraft
Wake Turbulence
The effect of those rotating air masses
When are wake vortices produced by fixed-wings and helicopters?
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
Which combinations of speed and weight of an aircraft produce the most vortex?
Heavy and slow aircraft produce the strongest vortex
Per kg of mass, which produces more vortex, helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft?
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.
What distance is a pilot suggested to leave between their aircraft and a helicopter hovering/hover taxiing?
3 diameters of the helicopters rotor
Are aircraft flying visually to be wake separated by the ATCO?
No the PIC is responsible for the wake separation when flying visually
However, ATCO must inform PIC of the recommended wake separation
What is the approach wake turbulence minima distance to be applied for aircraft following a Super?
Following a Super:
Heavy - 5NM
U/L Medium - 7NM
Small - 7NM
Light - 8NM
What is the approach wake turbulence minima distance to be applied for aircraft following a Heavy?
Following a Heavy:
Heavy - 4NM
U/L Medium - 5NM
Small - 6NM
Light - 7NM
What is the approach wake turbulence minima distance to be applied for aircraft following a Upper Medium?
Following an Upper Medium:
Upper Medium - 3NM
Lower Medium - 4NM
Small - 5NM
Light - 6NM
What is the approach wake turbulence minima distance to be applied for aircraft following a Lower Medium?
Following a Lower Medium:
Small - 3NM
Light - 5NM
What is the approach wake turbulence minima distance to be applied for aircraft following a Small?
Following a Small:
Small - 3NM
Light - 4NM
When should wake turbulence between successive departures be applied?
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
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?
Following a Super
Heavy - 2 minutes
Medium - 3 minutes
Small - 3 minutes
Light - 3 minutes
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?
Following a Heavy
Heavy - 4NM or time equivalent (0 at Gatwick)
Medium - 2 minutes
Small - 2 minutes
Light - 2 minutes
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?
Following a Medium/Small
Light - 2 minutes
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?
Following a Super
Heavy - 3 minutes
Medium - 4 minutes
Small - 4 minutes
Light - 4 minutes
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?
Following a Heavy
Heavy - 4NM or time equivalent
Medium - 3 minutes
Small - 3 minutes
Light - 3 minutes
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?
Following a Medium/Small
Light - 3 minutes
Can an ATCO reduce wake turbulence separation at pilot request?
No
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?
Following a Super low or missed approach
Heavy - 3 minutes
Medium - 4 minutes
Small - 4 minutes
Light - 4 minutes
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?
Following a Heavy low or missed approach
Medium - 3 minutes
Small - 3 minutes
Light - 3 minutes
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?
Following a Medium/Small low or missed approach
Light - 3 minutes
