Separation standards are provided in accordance with the respective airspace classification that Aircraft are operating within. This takes into account any area or military specific requirements. If the below separation standards are not conformed with there is an increased Risk to Life due to the increased likelihood of Mid Air Collisions (MAC). Throughout XU we require the application of prescribed separation criteria to reduce the likelihood of MAC and maintain a safe and expeditious flow of air traffic for departures, arrivals and overflights.
Controllers shall ensure that appropriate separation standards are applied between Aircraft relevant to the airspace classification within which they are operating.
Vertical or lateral separation should be applied between:
| Class | Flight Rules | Aircraft Requirements | Separation Requirements |
| A | IFR | ATC Clearance before entry into Class A and must comply with all ATC communications | Separate all aircraft from one another |
| C | IFR + VFR | ATC Clearance before entry into Class C and must comply with all ATC communications |
Separate IFR flights from other IFR and VFR flights as well as separating VFR flights from IFR flights. Ensure Traffic Information os passed(TI) between VFR flights to other VFR flights and provide traffic avoidance advice if requested
|
| D | IFR + VFR + SVFR | ATC Clearance before entry into Class C and must comply with all ATC communications | Separate IFR / SVFR flights from other IFR / SVFR flights. Pass important Traffic Information to IFR flights and SVFR flights on VFR flights and give traffic avoidance advice. Pass Traffic Information to VFR flights on all other flights and provide traffic avoidance advice when requested. |
| E | IFR + VFR | ATC Clearance before entry into Class C and must comply with all ATC communications. No clearance required for VFR | Separate IFR flights from other IFR flights while providing IFR flights, wherever practicable traffic information, and if requested by the pilot provide traffic avoidance advice on correlated and uncorrelated VFR flights. Provide VFR flights Traffic information in accordance with CAP 7743 |
| G | IFR + VFR | NONE | In Class G airspace, separation between Aircraft is ultimately the Responsibility of the pilot; however, when providing a Deconfliction Service, Controllers should provide information and advice aimed at achieving the defined deconfliction minima in CAP 774 |
In all classifications of airspace and in accordance with the type of Air Traffic Service (ATS) being provided, standard separation should be provided for IFR traffic if it is known or suspected that an unknown Aircraft:
Separation standards can and should be increased when requested by the pilot or a Controller deems it to be necessary.
When a Controller issues an avoiding action to IFR Aircraft operating within Class D or E airspace and the pilot reports that they have the unknown Aircraft in sight and have positively stated that they will maintain their own separation, further controller action can be limited to passing traffic information.
Standard lateral separation in all classifications of airspace is 5 nm and should be applied as a minimum, except where reduced lateral separation is allowed. Lateral separation is based on radar returns and exists when the distance between the centers of radar contacts does not represent less than the prescribed minimum, provided that the contacts do not touch or overlap.
Lateral separation is achieved by aircraft flying on different tracks or in different geographical locations as determined by navigational aids or visual observations.
Reduced lateral separation of 3 nm should only be applied within CAA approved airspace in accordance with the following requirements:
An Aircraft in receipt of a surveillance service, whether transponding Mode C or not can be vertically separated from other Aircraft which are transponding Mode C but should be subject to the following →
When the transponder Mode C of the conflicting Aircraft has been verified utilising VIV methods, the following minimum vertical separation should apply:
Vertical separation using transponder Mode C should not be applied against Aircraft transponding Mode A 0000
When agreeing co-ordination, Controllers should apply no less than the following vertical separation:
Between subsonic Aircraft:
When one or both Aircraft are supersonic:
RVSM of 1000 ft within the vertical and lateral limits of airspace notified as RVSM or RVSM transition airspace should only be applied if:
Reduced vertical separation of 500 ft should only be applied at Terminal Units and in accordance with the following requirements:
The application of reduced vertical separation to civil Aircraft and Military Aircraft equipped with a Airborne Collision Avoidance System should be exceptional rather than routine and only following agreement with the pilot.