Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) Practice Test 2026 – All-in-One Comprehensive Guide to Exam Success

Nonradar separation refers to the methods used by air traffic controllers to ensure safe distances between aircraft without the assistance of radar technology. Among the various types of nonradar separation, vertical, lateral, and longitudinal are recognized techniques used to maintain safe airspace.

Vertical separation involves maintaining different altitudes between aircraft, allowing them to operate safely above or below one another. Lateral separation refers to the distance maintained horizontally from an aircraft's flight path, ensuring that aircraft remain safely apart as they travel.

Longitudinal separation pertains to the separation maintained along the same flight path, ensuring aircraft are safely spaced out in terms of time or distance. These methods are essential for maintaining safe aircraft operations when radar is unavailable.

On the other hand, horizontal separation is not a distinct type of separation recognized in nonradar terms; instead, it is typically considered under the broader categorization of lateral separation. Since horizontal separation lacks a unique definition and overlaps with lateral separation, it is not considered a separate type. Therefore, understanding the distinctions between vertical, lateral, and longitudinal separation techniques clarifies why horizontal is not distinctively categorized in the same manner.