ATC ATC Separation Standards

Question 1

What is the standard horizontal radar separation minimum between IFR aircraft in en route airspace?

Accepted Answer

5 nautical miles

Answer

3 nautical miles

Answer

10 nautical miles

Answer

1 nautical mile

Question 2

What vertical separation standard applies between IFR aircraft at or below FL290 in domestic US airspace?

Accepted Answer

1,000 feet

Answer

500 feet

Answer

2,000 feet

Answer

3,000 feet

Question 3

What is RVSM and what vertical separation does it allow?

Accepted Answer

Reduced Vertical Separation Minima; 1,000 feet between FL290 and FL410

Answer

Restricted VFR Separation Minima; 500 feet between aircraft

Answer

Required VHF Separation Monitoring; 2,000 feet above FL410

Answer

Radar Verified Separation Method; 1,500 feet in all airspace

Question 4

When does wake turbulence separation apply?

Accepted Answer

Whenever a lighter aircraft follows a heavier aircraft in the same airspace or on approach

Answer

Only when aircraft are on the same runway for landing

Answer

Only between heavy jets operating above FL180

Answer

Only during instrument meteorological conditions (IMC)

Question 5

What minimum wake turbulence separation is required for a small aircraft following a heavy aircraft on final approach?

Accepted Answer

5 nautical miles

Answer

3 nautical miles

Answer

4 nautical miles

Answer

6 nautical miles

Question 6

What is non-radar separation, and when is it used?

Accepted Answer

Procedural separation based on time, position fixes, or altitude when radar is unavailable

Answer

Separation maintained using only visual reference from the control tower

Answer

Separation provided by TCAS onboard equipment instead of ATC

Answer

Reduced separation applied in visual meteorological conditions