Vertical Separation Standards

Vertical Separation Standards are safety measures that ensure a safe distance between aircraft flying at different altitudes. These standards prevent collisions by maintaining specific minimum gaps—often measured in hundreds or thousands of feet—between aircraft to account for speed, potential turbulence, and navigational errors. For example, commercial airplanes typically stay at least 1,000 feet apart vertically during cruising. These standards are standard across air traffic control to manage safe, efficient flight paths, especially in busy airspace, and adapt depending on aircraft type and altitude to ensure safety and orderly air traffic flow.