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Output Number
R20050010
Approval Date
Published Date Time
Recommendation type
Recommendation
Mode
Aviation
Date released

Safety Recommendation

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that
Airservices Australia review MATS 4.5.2.2 to ensure that separation
between aircraft, established by the use of visual observation of
aircraft position and projected flight paths, is more clearly
defined and consistently applied.

Organisation Response
Date Received
Organisation
Airservices Australia
Response Status
Monitor
Response Text

Airservices Australia advised that a working paper discussing
visual separation procedures had been developed.

Airservices will advise any subsequent action in relation to
Manual of Air Traffic Services amendments.

Date Received
Organisation
Airservices Australia
Response Text

Airservices Australia advised that a Manual of Air Traffic
Services (MATS)/Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) request
for change (RFC) had been issued 2 December 2006. The rules in MATS
regarding visual separation can be misinterpreted and in some
circumstances separation is not assured. The intention of the RFC
is to:

  • clarify the application of visual separation and specifically
    the use of projected flight paths
  • restructure the visual separation rules to differentiate visual
    separation by the pilot and the controller
  • clarify when traffic information needs to be passed
  • include the use of surveillance systems in identifying aircraft
    prior to the application of visual separation.

The proposed changes were included in the MATS on 15 March
2007.