Provide air traffic control services in the North Atlantic ICAO Region with the procedures and minima contained in this section except when noted otherwise.
Provide vertical separation in accordance with FAAO 7110.65, Chapter 4, Section 5.
Provide longitudinal separation between aircraft as follows:
a. Supersonic flight:
1. Provided the Mach number technique is applied in accordance
with paragraph 8-3-3:
(a) 10 Minutes; or
(b) 10 minutes when one or both aircraft has been cleared
to commence the deceleration/ descent phase of supersonic flight and the
preceding aircraft is maintaining a Mach number which is the same as or
greater than that of the following aircraft.
2. 15 Minutes between all other aircraft.
b. Operations Wholly or Partly in Minimum Navigation Performance
Specification (MNPS) Airspace (subsonic flight):
1. 10 minutes, provided the Mach number technique is applied
in accordance with paragraph 8-3-3; and
(a) Where tracks diverge from the common point:
(1) At least 10 minutes longitudinal separation
exists at the point where the tracks diverge; and
(2) At least 5 minutes longitudinal separation will
exist where 60 NM lateral separation is achieved; and
NOTE -
When the preceding aircraft is maintaining a greater Mach number than
the following aircraft in accordance with this subparagraph, and the aircraft
will follow continuously diverging tracks so that 60 NM lateral separation
will be achieved by the next significant point, the requirement to have
at least 5 minutes longitudinal separation where 60 NM lateral separation
is achieved, may be disregarded.
(3) At least 60 NM lateral separation will be achieved at or before the next significant point (normally within ten degrees of longitude along track(s)) or, if not, within 90 minutes of the time the second aircraft passes the common point or is within 600 NM of the common point, whichever is estimated to occur first.
(b) Between 9 and 5 minutes, provided the Mach number technique
is applied in accordance with paragraph 8-3-3; and
(1) It is possible to ensure, by radar or other
approved means, that the required time interval exists and will exist at
the common point from which they either follow the same track or continuously
diverging tracks; and
(2) The preceding aircraft is maintaining a greater
Mach number than the following aircraft in accordance with the following:
[a] 9 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is
Mach 0.02 faster than the following aircraft;
[b] 8 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is
Mach 0.03 faster than the following aircraft;
[c] 7 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is
Mach 0.04 faster than the following aircraft;
[d] 6 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is
Mach 0.05 faster than the following aircraft;
[e] 5 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is
Mach 0.06 faster than the following aircraft.
2. 15 minutes between turbojet aircraft not covered by paragraph
8-7-3.
c. Operations in the West Atlantic Route System (WATRS) (Subsonic
flight):
NOTE -
The WATRS area is defined as beginning at a point 27°00'N/77°00'W
direct to 20°00'N/67°00'W direct to 18°00'N/62°00'W direct
to 18°00'N/60°00'W direct to 38°30'N/60°00'W direct to
38°30'N/69°15'W, thence counterclockwise along the New York Oceanic
CTA/FIR boundary to the Miami Oceanic CTA/FIR boundary, thence southbound
along the Miami Oceanic CTA/FIR boundary to the point of beginning.
(a) Between all aircraft 15 minutes, or
(b) Aircraft operating at or above FL 280 within the WATRS area
or west of 60° West when in transit to or from WATRS;
(1) 10 minutes provided the Mach number technique is applied
in accordance with paragraph 8-3-3; and
[a] Where tracks diverge from the common point:
[1] At least 10 minutes longitudinal separation
exists at the point where the tracks diverge; and
[2] At least 5 minutes longitudinal separation
will exist where the minimum lateral separation is achieved; and
[3] At least the minimum lateral separation
will be achieved at or before the next significant point or, if not, within
90 minutes of the time the second aircraft passes the common point or is
within 600 NM of the common point, whichever is estimated to occur first;
[b] If the aircraft have not reported over a common
point, it is possible to ensure, by radar or other approved means, that
the appropriate time interval will exist at the common point from which
they either follow the same track or continuously diverging tracks;
(2) Between 9 and 5 minutes, provided the Mach number
technique is applied in accordance with paragraph 8-3-3; and
[a] It is possible to ensure by radar or other approved
means, that the required time interval exists and will exist at the common
point from which they either follow the same track or continuously diverging
tracks; and
[b] The preceding aircraft is maintaining a greater
Mach number than the following aircraft in accordance with the following:
[1] 9 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is
Mach 0.02 faster than the following aircraft;
[2] 8 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is
Mach 0.03 faster than the following aircraft;
[3] 7 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is
Mach 0.04 faster than the following aircraft;
[4] 6 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is
Mach 0.05 faster than the following aircraft;
[5] 5 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is
Mach 0.06 faster than the following aircraft.
NOTE -
When the preceding aircraft is maintaining a greater Mach number than
the following aircraft, in accordance with the above table, and the aircraft
will follow continuously diverging tracks so that the minimum lateral separation
will be achieved by the next significant point, the requirement to have
at least 5 minutes longitudinal separation where the minimum lateral separation
is achieved, may be disregarded.
d. Operations outside of MNPS airspace (subsonic flight): Apply
the following minimum longitudinal separation:
1. 15 minutes between turbojet aircraft, provided the Mach number
technique is applied in accordance with paragraph 8-3-3.
2. Between turbojet aircraft, provided the Mach number technique
is applied in accordance with paragraph 8-3-3, and only when it is possible
to ensure by radar or other approved means that the required time interval
exists and will exist at the common point:
(a) 10 minutes when the preceding aircraft is at least
Mach 0.03 faster than the following aircraft; or
(b) 5 minutes when the preceding aircraft is at least
Mach 0.06 faster than the following aircraft.
3. 20 minutes:
(a) Between turbojet aircraft not covered by paragraphs
d1 or d2; and
(b) Between other than turbojet aircraft operating along
routes extending between the United States, Canada or Bermuda and points
in the Caribbean Region, or between the United States or Canada and Bermuda;
and
4. 30 minutes between other than turbojet aircraft except those
covered in subparagraph 3(b) above.
Provide lateral separation by assigning different flight paths
whose widths or protected airspace do not overlap. Apply the following:
a. 60 NM or 1 degree latitude between:
1. Supersonic aircraft operating above FL 275.
2. Aircraft which meet the MNPS and which:
NOTE -
This reduced lateral separation shall not be used if track keeping
capability of the aircraft has been reduced for any reason.
(a) Operate within MNPS airspace; or
(b) Are in transit to or from MNPS airspace; or
(c) Operate for part of their flight within MNPS airspace
but are cleared to operate immediately above or below such airspace for
a portion of their flight.
b. 90 NM or 1 and 1/2 degrees latitude between aircraft operating:
1. Within WATRS;
2. Between the United States, Canada, and Bermuda;
3. West of 55° West between the United States, Canada, or
Bermuda and points in the Caribbean ICAO Region.
c. 120 NM or 2 degrees latitude between aircraft not covered
by subparagraphs a or b above.
NOTE -
Tracks may be spaced with reference to their difference in latitude,
provided that in any interval of 10 degrees of longitude the change in
latitude of at least one of the tracks does not exceed 3 degrees when operating
south of 58° North.