Separation (aeronautics)
CONCEPT OF KEEPING AIRCRAFT AT LEAST A MINIMUM DISTANCE APART TO REDUCE THE RISK OF COLLISION OR WAKE TURBULENCE
Conflict (air traffic control); Separation (Air Traffic Control); Loss of separation; Lateral seperation; Lateral separation; Separation (air traffic control); Vertical separation (aeronautics); Vertical separation (aviation)
In air traffic control, separation is the name for the concept of keeping an aircraft outside a minimum distance from another aircraft to reduce the risk of those aircraft colliding, as well as prevent accidents due to secondary factors, such as wake turbulence. Separation can also apply to terrain, obstacles, and controlled airspace, wherein an aircraft must stay at a minimum distance from a block of airspace; as an example, all aircraft must be approved by the controller who "owns" the airspace before the aircraft is approved to enter that sector.