GM1 to AMC6 ATS.TR.210(c)(2)(i) Operation of air traffic control service

LONGITUDINAL SEPARATION MINIMA WITH MACH NUMBER TECHNIQUE BASED ON DISTANCE USING RNAV — APPLICATION

(a)Separation should be established by maintaining not less than the specified distance between aircraft positions as reported by reference to RNAV equipment. Direct controller-pilot communications should be maintained, while such separation is used. Where high-frequency or general-purpose extended-range VHF air-ground communication channels are used for area control service and are worked by air-ground communicators, suitable arrangements should be made to permit direct controller-pilot communications, or monitoring by the air traffic controller of all air-ground communications.

(b)To assist pilots to readily provide the required RNAV distance information, such position reports should, wherever possible, be referenced to a common waypoint ahead of both aircraft.

(c)RNAV distance-based separation may be applied between RNAV-equipped aircraft when operating on designated RNAV routes or on ATS routes defined by VOR.

(d)To facilitate application of the procedure where a considerable change of level is involved, a descending aircraft may be cleared to some convenient level above the lower aircraft, or a climbing aircraft to some convenient level below the higher aircraft, to permit a further check on the separation that will be obtained while vertical separation does not exist.