Provide air traffic control services in the Caribbean ICAO Region with the procedures and minima contained in this section except when noted otherwise.
Provide vertical separation in accordance with 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 or greater
than that of the following aircraft.
2. 15 minutes between all other aircraft.
b. Operations in the West Atlantic Route System (WATRS) (subsonic
flight):
1. Between all aircraft within the San Juan CTA/FIR 15 minutes,
or
2. Aircraft operating at or above FL 280 within the WATRS area
or west of 60° West when in transit to or from WATRS;
(a) 10 minutes provided the Mach number technique is applied
in accordance with paragraph 8-3-3; and
(1) Where tracks diverge from the common point:
(2) At least 10 minutes longitudinal separation
exists at the point where the tracks diverge; and
(3) At least 5 minutes longitudinal separation will
exist where the minimum lateral separation is achieved; and
(4) 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;
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 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.
(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;
3. 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.
NOTE -
When the preceding aircraft is maintaining a greater Mach number than
the following aircraft, in accordance with the table above, and the aircraft
will follow continuously diverging tracks so that the minimum lateral separation
will be achieved by the next significant point, the requirement stated
in b2(a)(1)(ii) above, to have at least 5 minutes longitudinal separation
where the minimum lateral separation is achieved, may be disregarded.
c. Between turbojet aircraft meeting the Minimum Navigation Performance
Specifications (MNPS) and operating in the New York Oceanic CTA/FIR wholly
or partly in 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
exists 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.
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.
3.15 minutes between turbojet aircraft not covered in subparagraphs
c 1 and 2.
d. Operations between aircraft not covered in subparagraphs b
or c (subsonic flight):
1. Operations at or above FL 200.
(a) 15 minutes between turbojet aircraft, provided the Mach number
technique is applied, in accordance with paragraph 8-3-3.
(b) 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:
(1) 10 minutes when the preceding aircraft is at
least Mach 0.03 greater than the following aircraft; and
(2) 5 minutes when the preceding aircraft is at
least Mach 0.06 greater than the following aircraft;
2. 20 Minutes:
(a) Between aircraft operating below FL 200 west of 55°
West;
(b) Between aircraft operating at all levels east of 55°
West;
(c) Within the New York CTA/FIR;
(1) Between turbojet aircraft not covered by d1(a)
and (b) above;
(2) Between other than turbojet aircraft operating
along routes extending between the United States, Canada, or Bermuda and
the Caribbean ICAO Region.
Provide lateral separation by assigning different flight paths
whose widths or protected airspace do not overlap. Apply the following:
a. 60 NM.
1. Supersonic aircraft operating above FL 275 within the New
York oceanic CTA/FIR.
2. Supersonic aircraft operating at or above FL 450 not covered
in subparagraph a 1 above.
NOTE -
This reduced lateral separation shall not be used if track keeping
capability of the aircraft his been reduced for any reason.
3. Aircraft which meet the MNPS and while operating in the New
York oceanic CTA/FIR which are in transit to or from NAT MNPS airspace.
b. 90 NM between aircraft operating:
1. Within WATRS;
2. West of 55° West between the United States, Canada, or
Bermuda and points in the Caribbean ICAO Region.
c. 100 NM between aircraft operating west of 55° West not
covered by subparagraphs a or b above.
d. 120 NM between aircraft operating east of 55° West.
a. In the Houston, Miami, and San Juan CTAs, IFR flights may be
cleared to climb and descend in VFR conditions only:
1. When requested by the pilot; and
2. Between sunrise and sunset.
b. Apply the following when the flight is cleared:
1. If there is a possibility that VFR conditions may become
impractical, issue alternative instructions.
2. Issue traffic information to aircraft that are not separated
in accordance with the minima in this section.