JO 7110.65 Air Traffic ControlJO 7110.65BB · Change 3 · Effective 7/9/2026
Chapter 7 · Section 2
Visual Separation
1 Paragraph7-2-1
7-2-1 VISUAL SEPARATION
Visual separation may be applied when other approved separation is assured before and after the application of visual separation. To ensure that other separation will exist, consider aircraft performance, wake turbulence, closure rate, routes of flight, known weather conditions, and aircraft position. Weather conditions must allow the aircraft to remain within sight until other separation exists. Visual separation is not authorized when the lead aircraft is a super.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-20, Wake Turbulence Cautionary Advisories. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-21, Traffic Advisories. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 3-1-9, Use of Tower Radar Displays. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-9-5, Approach Separation Responsibility. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-1, Visual Approach. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-2, Vectors for Visual Approach. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-4, Approaches to Multiple Runways. FAA Order JO 7210.3, Para 4-3-2, Appropriate Subjects. FAA Order JO 7210.3, Para 10-3-9, Visual Separation. P/CG Term - Visual Approach. P/CG Term - Visual Separation.
TERMINAL. Visual separation may be applied between aircraft up to but not including FL180 under the following conditions:
Tower-applied visual separation.
Maintain communication with at least one of the aircraft involved or ensure there is an ability to communicate immediately with applicable military aircraft as prescribed in paragraph 3-9-3, Departure Control Instructions, subparagraph a2.
The tower visually observes the aircraft, issues timely traffic advisories, and provides visual separation between the aircraft.
Issue control instructions as necessary to ensure continued separation between the applicable aircraft.
Do not apply visual separation between successive departures when departure routes and/or aircraft performance preclude maintaining separation.
The use of tower-applied visual separation is not authorized when wake turbulence separation is required.
ATCTs at adjacent airports may be authorized to apply visual separation between their traffic and the other facility's traffic. All provisions of FAA Order JO 7110.65, paragraph 7-2-1a1, still apply.
NOTE
Additional requirements are listed in FAA Order JO 7210.3, paragraph 10-3-9, Visual Separation.
Pilot-applied visual separation.
Maintain communication with at least one of the aircraft involved and ensure there is an ability to communicate with the other aircraft.
The pilot sees another aircraft and is instructed to maintain visual separation from the aircraft as follows:
Tell the pilot about the other aircraft. Include position, direction, type, and, unless it is obvious, the other aircraft's intention.
Obtain acknowledgment from the pilot that the other aircraft is in sight.
Instruct the pilot to maintain visual separation from that aircraft.
PHRASEOLOGY
(ACID), TRAFFIC, (clock position and distance), (direction) BOUND, (type of aircraft), (intentions and other relevant information). If required, (ACID), REPORT TRAFFIC IN SIGHT or DO YOU HAVE IT IN SIGHT? If the pilot reports traffic in sight, or the answer is in the affirmative, (ACID), MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION
NOTE
Towers must use the procedures contained in paragraph 3-1-6, Traffic Information, subparagraph b or c, as appropriate.
If the pilot reports the traffic in sight and will maintain visual separation from it (the pilot must state both), the controller may “approve” the operation instead of restating the instructions.
PHRASEOLOGY
(ACID), APPROVED.
NOTE
Pilot-applied visual separation between aircraft is achieved when the controller has instructed the pilot to maintain visual separation and the pilot acknowledges with their call sign or when the controller has approved pilot-initiated visual separation.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-4-5, Transferring Controller Handoff.
If aircraft are on converging courses, inform the other aircraft of the traffic and that visual separation is being applied.
PHRASEOLOGY
(ACID), TRAFFIC, (clock position and distance), (direction) BOUND, (type of aircraft), HAS YOU IN SIGHT AND WILL MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.
Advise the pilots if the targets appear likely to merge.
NOTE
Issue this advisory in conjunction with the instruction to maintain visual separation, the advisory to the other aircraft of the converging course, or thereafter if the controller subsequently becomes aware that the targets are merging.
EXAMPLE
“Targets appear likely to merge.”
Control of aircraft maintaining visual separation may be transferred to an adjacent position/sector/facility. Coordination procedures must be specified in an LOA or facility directive.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7210.3, Para 4-3-1, Letters of Agreement.
EN ROUTE. Visual separation may be used up to but not including FL 180 when the following conditions are met:
Direct communication is maintained with one of the aircraft involved and there is an ability to communicate with the other.
A pilot sees another aircraft and is instructed to maintain visual separation from it as follows:
Tell the pilot about the other aircraft including position, direction, and type. If it is not obvious, include the other aircraft's intentions.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-21, Traffic Advisories.
Obtain acknowledgment from the pilot that the other aircraft is in sight.
Instruct the pilot to maintain visual separation from that aircraft.
PHRASEOLOGY
(ACID), TRAFFIC, (clock position and distance), (direction) BOUND, (type of aircraft), (intentions and other relevant information). If required, (ACID), REPORT TRAFFIC IN SIGHT or DO YOU HAVE IT IN SIGHT? If the pilot reports traffic in sight, or the answer is in theaffirmative, (ACID), MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION
If the pilot reports the traffic in sight and will maintain visual separation (the pilot must state both), the controller may “approve” the operation instead of restating the instructions.
PHRASEOLOGY
(ACID), APPROVED.
NOTE
Pilot-applied visual separation between aircraft is achieved when the controller has instructed the pilot to maintain visual separation and the pilot acknowledges with their call sign or when the controller has approved pilot-initiated visual separation.
If the aircraft are on converging courses, inform the other aircraft of the traffic and that visual separation is being applied.
Advise the pilots if the radar targets appear likely to merge.
NOTE
Issue this advisory in conjunction with the instruction to maintain visual separation, the advisory to the other aircraft of the converging course, or thereafter if the controller subsequently becomes aware that the targets are merging.
EXAMPLE
“Radar targets appear likely to merge."
PHRASEOLOGY
(ACID) TRAFFIC, (clock position and distance), (direction)-BOUND, (type of aircraft), ON CONVERGING COURSE, HAS YOU IN SIGHT AND WILL MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-1, Visual Approach. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-2, Vectors for Visual Approach.
Advise the pilots if either aircraft is a heavy.
Issue wake turbulence cautionary advisories in accordance with paragraph 2-1-20.
INTERPRETATION
7110.65, 7-2-1b, Visual Separation (5-24-2017) 7110.65, 7-2-1c, Visual Separation (7-17-2015)
Nonapproach control towers may be authorized to provide visual separation between aircraft within surface areas or designated areas when approved separation is provided before and after the application of visual separation. The nonapproach control tower must apply the procedures contained in subparagraph a1 or a2, when applying visual separation.
PHRASEOLOGY
VISUAL SEPARATION APPROVED BETWEEN (ACID) AND (ACID), and for departing aircraft, (departing/succeeding aircraft) (ACID), RELEASED.
If the nonapproach control tower controller states to the radar controller that they will provide visual separation between arrivals, departures/arrivals and/or successive departures, and states the call signs of all aircraft involved, the radar controller can approve the application of visual separation as requested.
PHRASEOLOGY
VISUAL SEPARATION APPROVED and for departing/succeeding aircraft, (ACIDs) RELEASED
NOTE
A nonapproach control tower by accepting authorization for visual separation becomes responsible for ensuring that separation. Separation of IFR aircraft before and after application of visual separation is an IFR control function that must be applied by the Approach/Departure/En Route facility. Separation requirements also apply to VFR aircraft when IFR, Class B, Class C or TRSA separation services are required.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-8-11, Practice Instrument Approaches. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-6-1, Application. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-2, Vectors for Visual Approach. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-6-1, Application. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-1, Application. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-2, Issuance of EFC. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-3, Separation. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-4, Helicopter/Powered‐Lift Traffic. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-5, Altitude Assignments. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-6, Approach Interval. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-7, TRSA Departure Information. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-8-2, Class C Services. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-8-3, Separation. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-8-4, Establishing Two-Way Communications. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-8-5, Altitude Assignments. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-8-6, Exceptions. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-1, Application. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-3, Methods. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-4, Separation. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-6, Helicopter/Powered‐Lift Traffic. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-7, Altitude Assignments.