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  1. Reference Library
  2. FAA Orders
  3. JO 7110.65
  4. Chapter 5
  5. Section 6
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JO 7110.65 Air Traffic Control
  1. Chapter 1. General

    Section 1. Introduction
  2. Section 2. Terms of Reference
  3. Chapter 2. General Control

    Section 1. General
  4. Section 2. Flight Plans and Control Information
  5. Section 3. Flight Progress Strips
  6. Section 4. Radio and Interphone Communications
  7. Section 5. Route and NAVAID Description
  8. Section 6. Weather Information
  9. Section 7. Altimeter Settings
  10. Section 8. Runway Visibility Reporting- Terminal
  11. Section 9. Automatic Terminal Information Service Procedures
  12. Section 10. Team Position Responsibilities
  13. Chapter 3. Airport Traffic Control - Terminal

    Section 1. General
  14. Section 2. Visual Signals
  15. Section 3. Airport Conditions
  16. Section 4. Airport Lighting
  17. Section 5. Runway Selection
  18. Section 6. Airport Surface Detection Procedures
  19. Section 7. Taxi and Ground Movement Procedures
  20. Section 8. Spacing and Sequencing
  21. Section 9. Departure Procedures and Separation
  22. Section 10. Arrival Procedures and Separation
  23. Section 11. Helicopter Operations
  24. Section 12. Sea Lane Operations
  25. Chapter 4. IFR

    Section 1. NAVAID Use Limitations
  26. Section 2. Clearances
  27. Section 3. Departure Procedures
  28. Section 4. Route Assignment
  29. Section 5. Altitude Assignment and Verification
  30. Section 6. Holding Aircraft
  31. Section 7. Arrival Procedures
  32. Section 8. Approach Clearance Procedures
  33. Chapter 5. Radar

    Section 1. General
  34. Section 2. Beacon/ADS-B Systems
  35. Section 3. Radar Identification
  36. Section 4. Transfer of Radar Identification
  37. Section 5. Radar Separation
  38. Section 6. Vectoring
    1. 5-6-1 APPLICATION
    2. 5-6-2 METHODS
    3. 5-6-3 VECTORS BELOW MINIMUM ALTITUDE
  39. Section 7. Speed Adjustment
  40. Section 8. Radar Departures
  41. Section 9. Radar Arrivals
  42. Section 10. Radar Approaches- Terminal
  43. Section 11. Surveillance Approaches- Terminal
  44. Section 12. PAR Approaches- Terminal
  45. Section 13. Automation- En Route
  46. Section 14. Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS)-Terminal
  47. Chapter 6. Nonradar

    Section 1. General
  48. Section 2. Initial Separation of Successive Departing Aircraft
  49. Section 3. Initial Separation of Departing and Arriving Aircraft
  50. Section 4. Longitudinal Separation
  51. Section 5. Lateral Separation
  52. Section 6. Vertical Separation
  53. Section 7. Timed Approaches
  54. Chapter 7. Visual

    Section 1. General
  55. Section 2. Visual Separation
  56. Section 3. VFR‐On‐Top
  57. Section 4. Approaches
  58. Section 5. Special VFR (SVFR)
  59. Section 6. Basic Radar Service to VFR Aircraft- Terminal
  60. Section 7. Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA)-Terminal
  61. Section 8. Class C Service- Terminal
  62. Section 9. Class B Service Area- Terminal
  63. Chapter 8. Offshore/Oceanic Procedures

    Section 1. General
  64. Section 2. Coordination
  65. Section 3. Longitudinal Separation
  66. Section 4. Lateral Separation
  67. Section 5. Offshore/Oceanic Transition Procedures
  68. Section 6. Separation from Airspace Reservations
  69. Section 7. North Atlantic ICAO Region
  70. Section 8. Caribbean ICAO Region
  71. Section 9. Pacific ICAO Region
  72. Section 10. North American ICAO Region
  73. Chapter 9. Special Flights

    Section 1. General
  74. Section 2. Special Operations
  75. Section 3. Special Use, ATC-Assigned Airspace, and Stationary ALTRVs
  76. Section 4. Fuel Dumping
  77. Section 5. Jettisoning of External Stores
  78. Section 6. Unmanned Free Balloons
  79. Section 7. Parachute Operations
  80. Section 8. Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Reports
  81. Chapter 10. Emergencies

    Section 1. General
  82. Section 2. Emergency Assistance
  83. Section 3. Overdue Aircraft
  84. Section 4. Control Actions
  85. Section 5. Miscellaneous Operations
  86. Section 6. Oceanic Emergency Procedures
  87. Section 7. Ground Missile Emergencies
  88. Chapter 11. Traffic Management Procedures

    Section 1. General
  89. Chapter 12. Canadian Airspace Procedures

    Section 1. General Control
  90. Chapter 13. Decision Support Tools

    Section 1. ERAM - En Route
  91. Section 2. ATOP - Oceanic
  92. Chapter 14. Data Link Communications

    Section 1. Terminal Procedures for Issuing Automated Clearances
  93. Section 2. En Route Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) - Domestic
  94. Section 3. Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) - Oceanic Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC)
  95. Appendices

    Appendix A. Standard Operating Practice (SOP) for the Transfer of Position Responsibility
  96. Appendix B. Standard Operating Practice (SOP) for Aircraft Deviating for Weather Near Active Special Activity Airspace (SAA)

JO 7110.65 Air Traffic Control|JO 7110.65BB · Change 3 · Effective 7/9/2026

Chapter 5 · Section 6

Vectoring

3 Paragraphs|5-6-1–5-6-3

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5-6-1 APPLICATION

Vector aircraft:

a.

In controlled airspace for separation, safety, noise abatement, operational advantage, confidence maneuver, or when a pilot requests.

b.

In Class G airspace only upon pilot request and as an additional service.

c.

At or above the MVA or the minimum IFR altitude except as authorized for radar approaches, radar departures, special VFR, VFR operations, or by paragraph 5-6-3, Vectors Below Minimum Altitude.

NOTE

VFR aircraft not at an altitude assigned by ATC may be vectored at any altitude. It is the responsibility of the pilot to comply with the applicable parts of CFR Title 14.

REFERENCE

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-5-6, Minimum En Route Altitudes. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-5-2, Priority. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-5-4, Altitude Assignment. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-5, Altitude Assignments. 14 CFR Section 91.119, Minimum Safe Altitudes: General.

d.

In airspace for which you have control jurisdiction, unless otherwise coordinated.

e.

So as to permit it to resume its own navigation within radar coverage.

f.

Operating special VFR only within Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface areas.

g.

Operating VFR at those locations where a special program is established, or when a pilot requests, or you suggest and the pilot concurs.

REFERENCE

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-4-1, Route Use. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-2-1, Visual Separation. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-5-3, Separation. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-6-1, Application. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 9-4-4, Separation Minima. FAA Order JO 7210.3, Chapter 12, Section 1, Terminal VFR Radar Services.

5-6-2 METHODS

a.

Vector aircraft by specifying:

1.

Direction of turn, if appropriate, and magnetic heading to be flown, or

PHRASEOLOGY

TURN LEFT/RIGHT HEADING (degrees). FLY HEADING (degrees). FLY PRESENT HEADING. DEPART (fix) HEADING (degrees).

2.

The number of degrees, in group form, to turn and the direction of turn, or

PHRASEOLOGY

TURN (number of degrees) DEGREES LEFT/RIGHT.

3.

For NO‐GYRO procedures, the type of vector, direction of turn, and when to stop turn.

PHRASEOLOGY

THIS WILL BE A NO‐GYRO VECTOR, TURN LEFT/RIGHT. STOP TURN.

b.

When initiating a vector, advise the pilot of the purpose, and if appropriate, what to expect when radar navigational guidance is terminated.

PHRASEOLOGY

VECTOR TO (fix or airway). VECTOR TO INTERCEPT (name of NAVAID) (specified) RADIAL. VECTOR FOR SPACING. (if appropriate) EXPECT DIRECT (NAVAID, waypoint, fix) VECTOR TO FINAL APPROACH COURSE, or if the pilot does not have knowledge of the type of approach, VECTOR TO (approach name) FINAL APPROACH COURSE.

NOTE

Determine optimum routing based on factors such as wind, weather, traffic, pilot requests, noise abatement, adjacent sector requirement, and letters of agreement.

c.

When vectoring or approving course deviations, assign an altitude to maintain and, if necessary, a speed, when:

1.

The vector or approved deviation is off an assigned procedure which contains altitude or speed restrictions, i.e., instrument approach, etc.

2.

The previously issued clearance included crossing restrictions.

REFERENCE

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-2-5, Route or Altitude Amendments.

3.

The vector or approved deviation is off an assigned procedure that contains published altitude or speed restrictions, i.e., SID, STAR, and a clearance to Climb Via/Descend Via has been issued.

d.

When vectoring or approving an aircraft to deviate off of a procedure, advise the pilot if you intend on clearing the aircraft to resume the procedure.

PHRASEOLOGY

FLY HEADING (degrees), MAINTAIN (altitude), (if necessary, MAINTAIN (speed)), EXPECT TO RESUME (SID, STAR, etc.). DEVIATION (restrictions if necessary) APPROVED, MAINTAIN (altitude), (if necessary, MAINTAIN (speed)), EXPECT TO RESUME (SID, STAR, etc.) AT (NAVAID, fix, waypoint).

NOTE

After a climb via or descend via clearance has been issued, a vector/deviation off of a SID/STAR cancels all published altitude and speed restrictions on the procedure. The aircraft's Flight Management System (FMS) may be unable to process crossing altitude restrictions once the aircraft leaves the SID/STAR lateral path. Without an assigned altitude, the aircraft's FMS may revert to leveling off at the altitude set by the pilot, which may be the SID/STAR published top or bottom altitude.

e.

Provide radar navigational guidance until the aircraft is:

1.

Established within the airspace to be protected for the nonradar route to be flown, or

2.

On a heading that will, within a reasonable distance, intercept the nonradar route to be flown, and

3.

Informed of its position unless the aircraft is RNAV, FMS, or DME equipped and being vectored toward a VORTAC/TACAN or waypoint and within the service volume of the NAVAID.

PHRASEOLOGY

(Position with respect to course/fix along route), RESUME OWN NAVIGATION, or FLY HEADING (degrees). WHEN ABLE, PROCEED DIRECT (name of fix), or RESUME (SID/STAR/transition/procedure).

REFERENCE

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Chapter 4, Section 1, NAVAID Use Limitations. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-5-7, Altitude Information.

f.

Aircraft instructed to resume a procedure which contains published crossing restrictions (SID/STAR) must be issued/reissued all applicable restrictions or be instructed to Climb Via/Descend Via.

PHRASEOLOGY

CLEARED DIRECT (NAVAID, fix, waypoint) CROSS (NAVAID, fix, waypoint) AT/AT OR ABOVE/AT OR BELOW (altitude), then CLIMB VIA/DESCEND VIA (SID/STAR)

EXAMPLE

“Cleared direct Luxor, then descend via the Ksino One arrival." “Cleared direct HITME, cross HITME at or above one one thousand, then climb via the Boach Five departure."

g.

Aircraft may not be vectored off an Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP), or issued an altitude lower than published altitude on an ODP, until at or above the MVA/MIA, at which time the ODP is canceled.

NOTE

Once an aircraft has been vectored off an Obstacle Departure Procedure, the procedure is canceled and ATC cannot clear the aircraft to resume the ODP.

REFERENCE

P/CG - Obstacle Departure Procedure.

h.

Aircraft vectored off an RNAV route must be recleared to the next waypoint or as requested by the pilot.

i.

When flight data processing is available, update the route of flight in the computer unless an operational advantage is gained and coordination is accomplished.

j.

Inform the pilot when a vector will take the aircraft across a previously assigned nonradar route.

PHRASEOLOGY

EXPECT VECTOR ACROSS (NAVAID radial) (airway/route/course) FOR (purpose).

REFERENCE

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-6-1, Application.

5-6-3 VECTORS BELOW MINIMUM ALTITUDE

a.

TERMINAL. As described in facility directives, when vectoring a departing IFR aircraft, or one executing a missed approach, when ISR is not displayed in the full data block and before it reaches the minimum altitude for IFR operations if separation from prominent obstacles shown on the radar scope is applied in accordance with one of the following:

1.

The flight path is 3 miles or more from the obstacle and the aircraft is climbing to an altitude at least 1,000 feet above the obstacle, vector the aircraft to maintain at least 3 miles separation from the obstacle until the aircraft reports leaving an altitude above the obstacle, or;

2.

The flight path is less than 3 miles from the obstacle and the aircraft is climbing to an altitude at least 1,000 feet above the obstacle, vector the aircraft to increase lateral separation from the obstacle until the 3 mile minimum is achieved or until the aircraft reports leaving an altitude above the obstacle, or;

3.

Radar facilities may vector aircraft below the MVA/MIA, provided:

(a)

No prominent obstacles are within 10 NM of the departure end of runway (DER).

(b)

Aircraft must be allowed an uninterrupted climb to meet the MVA/MIA within 10 NM of the DER.

NOTE

ATC assumes responsibility for terrain and obstacle avoidance when IFR aircraft are below the minimum IFR altitude (MVA, MIA, MEA) and are taken off departure/missed approach procedures, or if issued go‐around instructions, except after conducting a visual approach. ATC does not assume this responsibility when utilizing a Diverse Vector Area (DVA) or when operating on SIDs with or without a published range of headings in the departure route description.

b.

After reaching the first MVA/MIA sector, all subsequent MVA/MIA sectors encountered must be met.

REFERENCE

P/CG Term - Obstacle. P/CG Term - Obstruction. P/CG Term - Prominent Obstacle.

c.

At those locations where diverse vector areas (DVA) have been established, radar facilities may vector aircraft below the MVA/MIA within the DVA described in facility directives.

d.

At those locations using radar SIDs, radar facilities may vector aircraft below the MVA/MIA, in accordance with facility directives.

e.

At locations that vector aircraft conducting a go-around or missed approach, use authorized headings and display those prominent obstacles stipulated in facility directives until reaching the MVA/MIA.

REFERENCE

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-8-1, Procedures. FAA Order JO 7210.3, Para 3-8-6, Establishing Diverse Vector Area/s (DVA). FAA Order JO 7210.3, Para 10-3-16, Go‐Around/Missed Approach and Non-Intersecting Converging Runway Operations.

Referenced in This Section

JO 7110.65 4-5-6JO 7110.65 7-5-2JO 7110.65 7-5-4JO 7110.65 7-7-514 CFR 91.119JO 7110.65 4-4-1JO 7110.65 7-2-1JO 7110.65 7-5-3JO 7110.65 7-6-1JO 7110.65 9-4-4JO 7110.65 4-2-5JO 7110.65 4-5-7JO 7110.65 5-8-1JO 7210.3 3-8-6JO 7210.3 10-3-16
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5-6-1 APPLICATION

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