Operational Research and Development-The Process Leading to a Change in Air Traffic Control Separation Standards

The process of changing separation standards in the National Airspace System requires a dedicated effort to assess the actual performance of current airspace users and the potential performance of airspace users under the new separation standard. This paper describes the Vertical Separation Standards Program, from the establishment of standards in 1958 to the 1990 development by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of guidance for reducing vertical separation from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet above Flight Level 290. The paper presents a brief description of the operational research and development program the Federal Aviation Administration conducted from 1981 to 1990 to develop data to show the technical feasibility of reducing the vertical separation standard.