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AIRSPACE PLANNING 3.2.
1 The determination of separation minima and route spacing for use by aircraft
is a major element of airspace planning. The Manual on Airspace Planning Methodology for the
Determination of separation Minima (Doc 9689) and the Manual on the Use of Performance-Based
Navigation (PBN) in Airspace Design (Doc 9992) are key reference documents planners should consult.
3.2.2 Separation minima and route spacing can generally be described as being a function of three
factors: navigation performance, aircraft’s exposure to risk and the mitigation measures which are
available to reduce risk — see Figure I-A-3-2. Aircraft-to-aircraft separation and ATS route spacing are not
exactly the same. As such, the degree of complexity of the “equation” depicted graphically in Figures I-A-
3-2 and I-A-3-3 depends on whether separation between two aircraft or route spacing criteria is being
determined. 3.2.3 Aircraft to aircraft separation, for example, is usually applied between two aircraft and
as a consequence, the traffic density part of the risk is usually considered to be a single aircraft pair. For
route spacing purposes, this is not the case: the traffic density is determined by the volume of air traffic
operating along the spaced ATS routes. This means that if aircraft in an airspace are all capable of the
same navigation performance, one could expect the separation minima between a single aircraft pair to
be less than the spacing required for parallel ATS routes. 3.2.4 The complexity of determining route
spacing and separation minima is affected by the availability of a radar surveillance service and the type
of communications used. If an ATS surveillance service is available, this means that the risk can be
mitigated by including requirements for ATC intervention. These interrelationships are reflected in Figure
I-A-3-3 for separation and route spacing. 3.2.5 Impact of PBN on airspace planning 3.2.5.1 When
separation minima and route spacing are determined using a conventional sensor-based approach, the
navigation performance data used to determine the separation minima or route spacing depend on the
accuracy of the raw data from specific NAVAIDs such as VOR, DME or NDB. In contrast, PBN requires an
RNAV or RNP system that integrates raw navigation data to provide a positioning and navigation solution.
In determining separation minima and route spacing in a PBN context, this integrated navigation
performance “output” is used. 3.2.5.2 It has been explained in Chapter 1 that the navigation
performance required from the RNAV or RNP system is part of the navigation specification. To determine
separation minima and route spacing, airspace planners fully exploit that part of the navigation
specification which prescribes the performance required from the RNAV or RNP system. Airspace
planners also make use of the required performance, namely, accuracy, integrity, availability and
continuity to determine route spacing and separation minima. 3.2.5.3 Chapter 1 also explains that there
are two types of navigation specifications: RNAV specifications and RNP specifications, and that the
distinctive feature of RNP is a requirement for on-board performance monitoring and alerting. It is
expected, for example, that the separation minima and route spacing derived from an RNP 1
specification will be smaller than those derived from an RNAV 1 specification, though the extent of this
improvement has yet to be assessed. Performance-based Navigation (PBN) Manual I-A-3-4 Volume I.
Concept and Implementation Guidance Figure I-A-3-2. Generic model used to determine separation and
ATS route spacing Figure I-A-3-3. Factors affecting the determination of separation and route spacing
3.2.5.4 In procedurally controlled airspace, separation minima and route spacing based on RNP
specifications are expected to provide a greater benefit than those based on RNAV specifications. This is
because the on-board performance monitoring and alerting function could alleviate the absence of ATS
surveillance service by providing an alternative means of risk mitigation. Navigation specification
Navigation application Performance-based concept NAVIGATION INTERVENTION Traffic density Route
configuration Communications Surveillance ATC procedures and tools EXPOSURE TO RISK Navigation
specification Navigation application Performance-based concept NAVIGATION EXPOSURE TO RISK Traffic
density Route configuration INTERVENTION Communication Surveillance ATC procedures and tools
Determination of for tactical use ATC surveillance separation minima (1) without Determination of for
tactical use ATC surveillance Determination of ATC urveillance Determination of ATC surveillance
separation minima route spacing route spacing (1) with without s with   (1) (2) (3) Relevant; Largely
irrelevant; In context, separation minima based on navaid or navigation sensor or PBN; traffic density =
single aircraft pair; separation minima determined as a function of performance of ATC surveillance
system. (2) (2) and (3)           

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AIRSPACE PLANNING 3.2.

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