Visual Separation

AIM ¶ 5-5-12 — Visual Separation

AIM 5-5-12 explains pilot and controller responsibilities for visual separation, including wake turbulence and lost-sight reporting. Study guide for checkride prep.

In Plain English

Visual separation is a method ATC uses to keep aircraft apart by having a pilot keep another aircraft in sight rather than relying on radar or procedural separation. When you accept an instruction to follow another aircraft or to maintain visual separation from it, you're agreeing to maneuver as needed to avoid that traffic and to stay behind it if in‑trail.

Key pilot responsibilities:

Maintain visual separation until flight paths diverge in altitude and/or course.
Promptly notify ATC if you lose sight of the traffic, can't keep it in view, or can't accept the responsibility for any reason.
Accept responsibility for wake turbulence separation when following.

Controllers may apply visual separation:

In the terminal area when the controller sees both aircraft, or when a pilot sees the other and is told to maintain visual separation.
En route only when aircraft are on opposite courses and one pilot reports having seen and passed the other.

This matters operationally because accepting a visual reduces ATC workload and speeds up sequencing — but the safety responsibility shifts to you.

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AIM Source Text

FAA AIM ¶ 5-5-12

5-5-12. 5-5-12. Visual Separation Pilot. Acceptance of instructions to follow another aircraft or to provide visual separation from it is an acknowledgment that the pilot will maneuver the aircraft as necessary to avoid the other aircraft or to maintain in‐trail separation. Pilots are responsible to maintain visual separation until flight paths (altitudes and/or courses) diverge. If instructed by ATC to follow another aircraft or to provide visual separation from it, promptly notify the controller if you lose sight of that aircraft, are unable to maintain continued visual contact with it, or cannot accept the responsibility for your own separation for any reason. The pilot also accepts responsibility for wake turbulence separation under these conditions. Controller. Applies visual separation only: Within the terminal area when a controller has both aircraft in sight or by instructing a pilot who sees the other aircraft to maintain visual separation from it. Pilots are responsible to maintain visual separation until flight paths (altitudes and/or courses) diverge. Within en route airspace when aircraft are on opposite courses and one pilot reports having seen the other aircraft and that the aircraft have passed each other.

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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask

Q1What are you accepting when ATC tells you to 'follow' another aircraft and you acknowledge?

Per AIM 5-5-12, you're acknowledging you'll maneuver as necessary to avoid the other aircraft or maintain in-trail separation, maintain visual separation until flight paths diverge, and accept responsibility for wake turbulence separation.

Q2What must you do if you lose sight of traffic you were instructed to follow?

Per AIM 5-5-12, you must promptly notify the controller if you lose sight of the aircraft, are unable to maintain continued visual contact, or cannot accept responsibility for your own separation for any reason.

Q3Under what conditions can a controller apply visual separation in en route airspace?

Per AIM 5-5-12, a controller may apply visual separation en route only when aircraft are on opposite courses and one pilot reports having seen the other aircraft and that they have passed each other.

Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 5

¶ 5-5-1

Pilot/Controller Responsibilities

Instrument Departures

¶ 5-5-15