Separation Is Your Job in Uncontrolled Airspace
Separation in uncontrolled airspace is the pilot's responsibility: keep a slow, thorough scan, give accurate position reports and actively coordinate with nearby traffic.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
In uncontrolled airspace, responsibility for separation from other aircraft rests entirely with the pilot. To maintain situational awareness we use several tools – mainly lookout and radio calls.
Lookout – make it slow and thorough. The ideal scan rate is roughly 20 degrees every 2 seconds. Make an effort to check around the aircraft's blind spots.
Radio calls – position reports must be accurate and on the correct frequency. Include:
- who you're talking to
- your callsign
- your current position
- altitude
- intentions
For example: "Otaki Traffic, EKM, overhead Peka Peka Ponds, 1500 ft, tracking north along the coast."
Be mindful of where frequencies change – for example, from Tararua Traffic 118.3 to Manawatu Traffic 122.6 (always confirm current frequencies on your chart). There may be transiting aircraft in the area that haven't made a radio call yet.
When you hear radio calls, think about how that traffic affects you now and in the future. Making a position report doesn't absolve you from maintaining separation. If you're heading to the training area and know there's traffic nearby, talk to them to arrange separation – for example, one stays landside and one stays seaward, or use vertical separation.