JO 7110.65 Air Traffic ControlJO 7110.65BB · Change 3 · Effective 7/9/2026
Chapter 6 · Section 2
Initial Separation of Successive Departing Aircraft
2 Paragraphs6-2-1–6-2-2
6-2-1 MINIMA ON DIVERGING COURSES
Separate aircraft that will fly courses diverging by 45 degrees or more after departing the same or adjacent airports by use of one of the following minima:
NOTE
1. Consider known aircraft performance characteristics when applying initial separation to successive departing aircraft. 2. When one or both of the departure surfaces is a helipad or vertipad, use the takeoff course as a reference, comparable to the centerline of a runway, and the helipad/vertipad center as the threshold.
When aircraft will fly diverging courses:
Immediately after takeoff - 1 minute until courses diverge. (See FIG 6-2-1.)
FIG 6-2-1 Minima on Diverging Courses
Within 5 minutes after takeoff- 2 minutes until courses diverge. (See FIG 6-2-2.)
FIG 6-2-2 Minima on Diverging Courses
Within 13 miles DME/ATD after takeoff - 3 miles until courses diverge. (See FIG 6-2-3.)
FIG 6-2-3 Minima on Diverging Courses
TERMINAL. Between aircraft departing in the same direction from different runways whose centerlines are parallel and separated by at least 3,500 feet, authorize simultaneous takeoffs when the aircraft will fly diverging courses immediately after takeoff. (See FIG 6-2-4.)
FIG 6-2-4 Minima on Diverging Courses
TERMINAL. Between aircraft that will fly diverging courses immediately after takeoff from diverging runways: (See FIG 6-2-5.)
Nonintersecting runways. Authorize simultaneous takeoffs when either of the following conditions exist:
The runways diverge by 30 degrees or more.
The distance between runway centerlines at and beyond the points where takeoffs begin is at least:
2,000 feet and the runways diverge by 15 to 29 degrees inclusive.
3,500 feet and the runways diverge by less than 15 degrees.
FIG 6-2-5 Minima on Diverging Courses
Intersecting runways. Authorize takeoff of a succeeding aircraft when the preceding aircraft has passed the point of runway intersection, and
The runways diverge by 30 degrees or more. (See FIG 6-2-6.)
FIG 6-2-6 Minima on Diverging Courses
The runways diverge by 15 to 29 degrees inclusive and the preceding aircraft has commenced a turn. (See FIG 6-2-7.)
FIG 6-2-7 Minima on Diverging Courses
6-2-2 MINIMA ON SAME COURSE
Separate aircraft that will fly the same course when the following aircraft will climb through the altitude assigned to the leading aircraft by using a minimum of 3 minutes until the following aircraft passes through the assigned altitude of the leading aircraft; or 5 miles between DME equipped aircraft; RNAV equipped aircraft using ATD; and between DME and ATD aircraft provided the DME aircraft is either 10,000 feet or below or outside of 10 miles from the DME NAVAID. (See FIG 6-2-8 and FIG 6-2-9.)
FIG 6-2-8 Minima on Same Course
FIG 6-2-9 Minima on Same Course