lateral separation

lateral separation

[′lad·ə·rəl ‚sep·ə′rā·shən] (navigation) In air-traffic control, the separation between aircraft on parallel course lines.

lateral separation

The lateral spacing of aircraft at the same altitude by ensuring operations on different routes or in different geographic locations. This is ensured by one of the following methods: (i) clearing aircraft on different airways or routes whose widths or protected airspace do not overlap. (ii) clearing aircraft below 18,000 to proceed to and report over or hold at different geographical locations determined visually or by reference to NAVAIDs. (iii) clearing aircraft to hold over different fixes whose holding pattern airspace areas do not overlap each other or other airspace to be protected. (iv) clearing departing aircraft to fly specified headings which are diverging.