6-2-1 Minima on Diverging Courses
Separate aircraft that will fly courses diverging by 45 degrees or
more after departing the same or adjacent airports by use of one of the
following minima:
NOTE -
1 - Consider known aircraft performance characteristics when applying
initial separation to successive departing aircraft.
2 - When one or both of the departure surfaces is a helipad, use the
takeoff course of the helicopter as a reference, comparable to the centerline
of a runway and the helipad center as the threshold.
a. When aircraft will fly diverging courses:
1. Immediately after takeoff - 1 minute until courses diverge.
(See Figure 6-2-1)
![]() |
2. Within 5 minutes after takeoff - 2 minutes until courses diverge.
(See Figure 6-2-2)
![]() |
{New-98-3 Revised February 26, 1998}
3. Within 13 miles DME/LTD after takeoff - 3 miles until courses
diverge. (See Figure 6-2-3)
![]() |
b. TERMINAL: Between aircraft departing in the same direction from different runways whose centerlines are parallel and separated by at least 3,500 feet - Authorize simultaneous takeoffs when the aircraft will fly diverging courses immediately after takeoff. (See Figure 6-2-4)
c. TERMINAL: Between aircraft that will fly diverging courses immediately after takeoff from diverging runways: (See Figure 6-2-5)
1. Nonintersecting runways - Authorize simultaneous takeoffs
when either of the following conditions exist:
(a) The runways diverge by 30 degrees or more.
![]() |
(b) The distance between runway centerlines at and beyond
the points where takeoffs begin is at least:
(1) 2,000 feet and the runways diverge by 15 to
29 degrees inclusive.
(2) 3,500 feet and the runways diverge by less than
15 degrees.
![]() |
2. Intersecting runways - Authorize takeoff of a succeeding aircraft
when the preceding aircraft has passed the point of runway intersection,
and
(a) The runways diverge by 30 degrees or more. (See Figure
6-2-6)
![]() |
(b) The runways diverge by 15 to 29 degrees inclusive and
the preceding aircraft has commenced a turn. (See Figure 6-2-7)
![]() |
{New-98-3 Revised February 26, 1998}
Separate aircraft that will fly the same course when the following
aircraft will climb through the altitude assigned to the leading aircraft
by using a minimum of 3 minutes until the following aircraft passes through
the assigned altitude of the leading aircraft; or 5 miles between DME equipped
aircraft; RNAV equipped aircraft using LTD; and between DME and LTD aircraft
provided the DME aircraft is either 10,000 feet or below or outside of
10 miles from the DME NAVAID. (See Figure 6-2-8 and Figure 6-2-9.)
![]() |
![]() |