Plain English Meaning

The set distances that controllers must keep between airplanes — and between airplanes and the ground or obstacles — so they never get dangerously close to each other.

Full Definition

The minimum distances — vertical, lateral, and longitudinal — that air traffic control must maintain between aircraft, and between aircraft and obstacles or terrain, to ensure safe operations in controlled airspace. These standards are defined by the FAA and are based on factors such as airspace class, aircraft type, surveillance equipment available (radar or non-radar), and phase of flight.

Context Anchor

Seen when studying how instrument , , , departures, and air traffic control instructions are designed to keep aircraft of .