Section 2. Visual Separation
7-2-1. VISUAL SEPARATION
(Link to N JO 7110.677)
Aircraft may be separated by visual means, as
provided in this paragraph, when other approved
separation is assured before and after the application
of visual separation. To ensure that other separation
will exist, consider aircraft performance, wake
turbulence, closure rate, routes of flight, and known
weather conditions. Reported weather conditions
must allow the aircraft to remain within sight until
other separation exists. Do not apply visual
separation between successive departures when
departure routes and/or aircraft performance preclude maintaining separation.
REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-20, Wake Turbulence
Cautionary Advisories.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-21, Traffic Advisories.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 3-1-9, Use of Tower Radar Displays.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 5-9-5, Approach Separation
Responsibility.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-1, Visual Approach.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-2, Vectors for Visual Approach.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-4, Approaches to Multiple
Runways.
P/CG Term- Visual Approach.
P/CG Term- Visual Separation.
a. TERMINAL. Visual separation may be applied
between aircraft up to but not including FL180 under the following conditions:
1. Tower-applied
visual separation.
(a)
Maintain communication with at least
one of the aircraft involved or ensure there is an ability to
communicate immediately as prescribed in paragraph 3-9-3, Departure Control Instructions,
subparagraph a2.
(b) The tower visually observes the aircraft,
issues timely traffic advisories, and maintains visual separation between the
aircraft. The use of tower-applied visual separation is not authorized
when wake turbulence separation is required.
(c) Issue subsequent control
instructions as necessary to ensure continued separation between the applicable
aircraft.
NOTE-
Adjacent airports with operating ATCTs are not authorized to apply visual
separation between their traffic and the other ATCT's traffic.
2. Pilot-applied visual
separation.
(a) Maintain communication
with at least one of the aircraft involved and ensure there is an ability to
communicate with the other aircraft.
(b) The pilot sees another aircraft and is instructed
to maintain visual separation from the aircraft as
follows:
(1) Tell the pilot about the other aircraft.
Include position, direction, and, unless it is obvious,
the other aircraft's intention.
(2) Obtain acknowledgment from the pilot
that the other aircraft is in sight.
(3) Instruct the pilot to maintain visual
separation from that aircraft.
PHRASEOLOGY-
TRAFFIC, (clock position and distance), (direction)
BOUND, (type of aircraft), (intentions and other relevant
information).
DO YOU HAVE IT IN SIGHT?
If the answer is in the affirmative,
MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.
(c) If the pilot advises he/she has the traffic in
sight and will maintain visual separation from it (the
pilot must use that entire phrase), the controller need
only “approve” the operation instead of restating the
instructions.
PHRASEOLOGY-
APPROVED.
NOTE-
Pilotapplied visual separation between aircraft is
achieved when the controller has instructed the pilot to
maintain visual separation and the pilot acknowledges or
when the controller has approved pilotinitiated visual
separation.
REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 545, Transferring Controller Handoff
(d)
If the aircraft are on converging courses, inform the other
aircraft of the traffic and that visual separation is being applied.
PHRASELOLGY-
TRAFFIC, (clock position and distance),
(direction) BOUND, (type of aircraft), HAS YOU IN
SIGHT AND WILL MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.
(e) Advise the pilots if the
radar targets appear likely to merge.
NOTE-
Issue this advisory in conjunction with the instruction to maintain visual
separation, the advisory to the other aircraft of the converging course, or
thereafter if the controller subsequently becomes aware that the targets are
merging.
EXAMPLE-
"Radar targets appear likely to merge."
b. TERMINAL. Control of
aircraft maintaining visual separation may be transferred to an adjacent
position/sector/facility. Coordination procedures must be specified in an
LOA or facility directive.
REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7210.3, Para 4-3-1, Letters of Agreement
c. EN ROUTE. Visual separation may be used up
to but not including FL 180 when the following
conditions are met:
1. Direct communication is maintained with one
of the aircraft involved and there is an ability to
communicate with the other.
2. A pilot sees another aircraft and is instructed
to maintain visual separation from it as follows:
(a) Tell the pilot about the other aircraft
including position, direction and unless it is obvious,
the other aircraft's intentions.
(b) Obtain acknowledgment from the pilot
that the other aircraft is in sight.
(c) Instruct the pilot to maintain visual
separation from that aircraft.
(d) Advise the pilot if the radar targets appear
likely to converge.
(e) If the aircraft are on converging courses,
inform the other aircraft of the traffic and that visual
separation is being applied.
(f) Advise the pilots if either aircraft is a
heavy.
(g) Traffic advisories and wake turbulence
cautionary advisories must be issued in accordance
with para 2-1-20, Wake Turbulence
Cautionary Advisories, and para 2-1-21,
Traffic Advisories.
(h) If the pilot advises he/she has the traffic in
sight and will maintain visual separation from it (the
pilot must use that entire phrase), the controller need
only “approve” the operation instead of restating the
instructions.
PHRASEOLOGY-
TRAFFIC, (clock position and distance),
(direction)-BOUND, (type of aircraft), (intentions and
other relevant information).
If applicable,
ON CONVERGING COURSE.
DO YOU HAVE IT IN SIGHT?
If the answer is in the affirmative,
MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.
If the pilot advises he/she has the traffic in sight and will
maintain visual separation from it (pilot must use that
entire phrase):
(Call Sign) APPROVED.
If aircraft are on converging courses, advise the other
aircraft:
TRAFFIC, (clock position and distance),
(direction)-BOUND, (type of aircraft), HAS YOU IN
SIGHT AND WILL MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.
REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-1, Visual Approach.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-2, Vectors for Visual Approach.
d. Nonapproach control towers may be authorized
to provide visual separation between aircraft within
surface areas or designated areas provided other
separation is assured before and after the application
of visual separation. This may be applied by the
nonapproach control tower providing the separation
or by a pilot visually observing another aircraft and
being instructed to maintain visual separation with
that aircraft.
PHRASEOLOGY-
VISUAL SEPARATION APPROVED BETWEEN
(identification) AND (identification),
and for departing aircraft,
(departing/succeeding aircraft) RELEASED YOUR
DISCRETION.
NOTE-
Separation of IFR aircraft before and after application of
visual separation is an IFR control function (Approach/Departure/En Route). A nonapproach control tower by
accepting authorization for visual separation becomes
responsible for ensuring that separation. Separation
requirements also apply to VFR aircraft when IFR,
Class B, Class C or TRSA separation is prescribed.
REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 4-8-11, Practice Approaches.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 5-6-1, Application.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-2, Vectors for Visual Approach.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-6-1, Application.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-1, Application.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-2, Issuance of EFC.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-3, Separation.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-4, Helicopter Traffic.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-5, Altitude Assignments.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-6, Approach Interval.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-7, TRSA Departure Information.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-8-2, Class C Services.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-8-3, Separation.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-8-4, Establishing Two-Way
Communications.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-8-5, Altitude Assignments.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-8-6, Exceptions.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-1, Application.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-3, Methods.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-4, Separation.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-6, Helicopter Traffic.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-7, Altitude Assignments.
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