Separation

24.11.2006

Submission:

How can I avoid P, R pr D Zones with a STAR or a SID procedure? In Initial approach for example should I use a 2.5NM primary area and a 2.5 secondary area around zone or just use the primary area around zone?

Daniel Sajn - Procedure Designer - SMATSA

Answer or Commentary:

I.W.

I don’t think there is anything laid down in ICAO documents about this. There is a comment about separation of holding patterns. ICAO Pans-Ops states:

Note.- Where two adjacent holding pattern areas which have been constructed in accordance with these procedures overlap, consideration may be given to deeming these patterns laterally separated if the State concerned establishes that winds from different directions would be required in order for such conflict to occur. The basic holding area plus the entry area determined in accordance with these procedures should be applied in determining lateral separation between each pattern and other adjacent areas of probability, e.g. air routes.

Some countries like for example have made up their own procedural separation manual which details when routes etc. are procedurally separated.

I would personally in a procedural environment treat the P, R, D areas as obstacles with primary and secondary protection areas.

However if you have radar monitoring I think that you may be able to reduce the total area to 2.5nm. This would be based on the idea that when radar controllers have boundaries between adjacent units each unit can usually radar vector aircraft within 2.5nm of the boundary without coordination. Also it would probably have to be part of the local unit radar operation manual.