vertical separation

vertical separation

[′vərd·ə·kəl ‚sep·ə′rā·shən]

(aerospace engineering)

A specified vertical distance measured in terms of space between aircraft in flight at different altitudes or flight levels.

(geology)

The vertical component of the dip slip in a fault.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

vertical separation

Quadrantal heights system of vertical separation.

Semicircular system of separation.

Separation between aircraft expressed in units of vertical distance (ICAO). It is the specified difference in flight levels between air traffic on conflicting courses. Outside controlled airspaces (CAS), the responsibility for this is with the pilot, but inside CAS, ATC (air traffic control) allocates levels, often following semicircular rules. However, it cannot be assumed that this will always be the case. Below flight level 300, the aim is to keep a 1000-ft separation and above this a 2000-ft separation. Various types of vertical separations are indicated in the illustrations.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved