Runway separation

• Runway separation
• Intersecting runways
• Reduced runway separation (RRS)

Runway separation

Runway management is the main task of every tower controller. Without a runway, an airport obviously makes no sense. Not only do we have to use our runway as efficiently as possible in order to fully utilize the airport's capacity, but we also have to protect it accordingly, as the critical flight phases of take-off and landing take place there. Runway separation was introduced for this purpose. But what actually is runway separation? It's actually quite simple:

The runway may only ever be occupied by one user at a time.

Now we just have to deal with a few more questions to clearly define the concept.

Who is considered a runway user?

• Landing aircraft (i.e. aircraft with active landing clearance)
• Aircraft taking off (i.e. aircraft with active take-off clearance)
• Vehicles on the runway e.g. inspecting the runway (not implemented on Vatsim)

How long is a user considered to be an active user of a runway and when is the runway free again for the next user?

• For aircraft taking off: The runway can be used again as soon as the departing aircraft has either

  • overflown the end of the runway (image b) or

  • vacated the runway to the side (picture a)

• For landing aircraft: The runway can be used again as soon as the aircraft has vacated the runway (image c). The runway is considered abandoned as soon as all parts of the aircraft have rolled over the stop bar of the CAT1 holding point.

An aircraft that is cleared for line-up (i.e. taxiing onto the runway, but without take-off clearance) does not count as a runway user. A line-up clearance can therefore be given in the following cases, even though the runway is still occupied according to the above criteria:

The procedure described on this page is also called “full” runway separation. Does this mean that there is a “half” runway separation, too? Not quite, but almost. There is also “reduced” runway separation (RRS), which is taught in the specific tower textbooks. A brief teaser: with reduced runway separation, under certain conditions the runway may be used more efficiently.

Intersecting runways

Many airports have intersecting runways either to compensate for prevailing weather conditions or to increase efficiency due to a lack of space. In Germany, Hamburg and Cologne are particularly well known for their intersecting runways.

As always, there are rules and regulations that must be observed when using the two runways simultaneously.

In this chapter, we will consider all possible combinations for using the runways.

Departure - Departure

In the case of two departures on intersecting runways, the second aircraft may only begin the take-off run if one of the following conditions is met:

The other aircraft is taking off and

• has taken off and has initiated a turn that excludes the possibility of undercutting the separation or

• has crossed the intersection.

Arrival - Departure

The situation is different if we have a preceding inbound, in which case the second aircraft on the intersecting runway may only begin the take-off run if one of the following conditions is met:

The other aircraft lands and

• has left the runway or

• has been instructed to stop before the intersection and has completed the landing roll or

• has crossed the intersection.

Abflug - Anflug

Bei einem abfliegenden Luftfahrzeug gefolgt von einem anfliegenden Luftfahrzeug auf der kreuzenden Piste, darf das folgende Luftfahrzeug den Anfang der Piste erst überfliegen, wenn eine der folgenden Bedingungen gegeben ist::

Das andere Luftfahrzeug startet und

• hat abgehoben und eine Kurve eingeleitet, die eine Staffelungsunterschreitung ausschließt
  oder
• hat die Kreuzung überquert. 

Arrival - Arrival

The last possibility is a landing aircraft followed by another landing aircraft on the intersecting runway. The following aircraft may only fly over the runway threshold if one of the following conditions is met:

The other aircraft is landing and

• has left the runway or

• has been instructed to stop before the intersection and has completed the landing roll or

• has crossed the intersection.

Simultaneous use of intersecting runways

The simultaneous use of intersecting runways may only be authorized for two landing aircraft under the following conditions:

• One of the intersecting runways has an available distance between threshold and intersection of at least 2200 meters. 

• An aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of up to 2000 kg lands on this runway.

All of the following conditions must additionally be met:

• VMC

• The braking action is not negatively affected.

• Both aircraft have been informed of the simultaneous landings.

• The aircraft landing on the 2200m runway has been instructed to stop before the intersection.

Reduced runway separation (RRS)

Reduced runway separation is not a mandatory part of S1 training.

Requirements

ATCOs can only use Reduced Runway Separation if the following aspects are fulfilled:

• The tailwind component on the ground must not exceed 5 knots

• Ground visibility must be equal to or greater than 5 kilometers

• The main cloud base must be at 1000ft AGL or higher

• Wake turbulence separation must be maintained at all times

• The braking effect on the runway must not be significantly impaired by precipitation

• On Vatsim, the braking effect is considered to be significantly impaired by precipitation: snow (SN), snow grains (SG), ice grains (PL), hail (GR) and rime (GS) - in other words, all precipitation except rain (RA) and drizzle (DZ)

• The following aircraft in the RRS sequence must receive traffic information about the preceding traffic

Aircraft categories

For the Reduced Runway Separation procedure, aircraft have been divided into three categories.

These three categories are:

CAT 1	CAT 2	CAT 3
Single-engine propeller-driven aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of up to 2 tons.	Single-engine propeller-driven aircraft with a maximum take-off weight greater than 2 tons but less than 7 tons. Twin-engine propeller-driven aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of less than 7 tons.	All other aircraft
The following registrations apply in Germany: D-E D-K D-M	The following registrations apply in Germany: D-C (up to 7 tons) D-F D-G D-I	The following registrations apply in Germany: D-C (over 7 tons) D-B D-A
Examples: C152, C172, P28A, A210, DA40, DR40, DV20, SR22	Examples: DA62, PA34, TBM9, BE58, B350	Examples: AT75, DH8D, C25C, CRJ9, B738, A359

Possible constellations

There are four different possible constellations of these categories on a runway. We will now look at these step by step with a focus on Reduced Runway Separation.

Departure behind departure

Arrival behind arrival

This situation may seem somewhat strange, as a landing clearance is issued even though there is another pilot still on the runway. However, if the distances are maintained, this is actually legal and is practiced in reality.

Arrival behind departure

Departure behind arrival

Reduced runway separation may not be used in this constellation.

Phraseology examples

Miscellaneous and example

Example of the procedure

Marker in the sector file

Of course, you do not have to estimate the distances in meters. Depending on the runway direction selected in Euroscope, you will find green markers on the runway (design may vary depending on the FIR). These describe the distances for the various combinations of aircraft CATs from the start of the runway. The first marker is at 600m and the following ones at 1500m and 2400m. The picture shows an example of these markings for runway 08L in Munich. The representation may differ depending on the FIR.

Article about Reduced Runway Separation

Anyone interested in the topic of RRS beyond the content mentioned above will find an interesting article on the subject in an issue of “Flugleiter”, the magazine of the air traffic controllers’ union. It can be found from page 48 onwards.
Flugleiter 04/22