Mach Number Technique

The use of Mach number technique allows for the application of reduced longitudinal separation minima. The following conditions must be met when the Mach number technique is being applied:

1. Aircraft Types: Turbojet aircraft only.
2. Routes:
   1. The aircraft follow the same track or continuously diverging tracks, and
   2. The aircraft concerned have reported over a common point; or
   3. If the aircraft have not reported over a common point, the appropriate time interval being applied between aircraft exists and will exist at the common point; or,
   4. If a common point does not exist, the appropriate time interval being applied between aircraft exists and will exist at significant points along each track.
3. Altitudes: The aircraft concerned are in level, climbing or descending flight.
4. Mach Number Assignment:
   1. A Mach number (or, when appropriate, a range of Mach numbers) must be issued to each aircraft unless otherwise prescribed on the basis of ICAO regional agreement.
5. Longitudinal Minima:

   When the Mach number technique is applied, minimum longitudinal separation must be:

   1. 10 minutes, provided that:
      1. The preceding aircraft maintains a Mach number equal to, or greater than that maintained by the following aircraft; or
      2. When the following aircraft is faster than the preceding aircraft, at least 10 minutes exists until another form of separation is achieved; or
   2. Between 9 and 5 minutes inclusive, provided that the preceding aircraft is maintaining a Mach number greater than the following aircraft in accordance with the following:
      1. 9 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is Mach 0.02 faster than the following aircraft;
      2. 8 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is Mach 0.03 faster than the following aircraft;
      3. 7 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is Mach 0.04 faster than the following aircraft;
      4. 6 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is Mach 0.05 faster than the following aircraft;
      5. 5 minutes, if the preceding aircraft is Mach 0.06 faster than the following aircraft.

         TBL 8-3-1 Application of the Mach Number Technique When the Following Aircraft is Faster

         	Distance to Fly and Separation (in Minutes) Required at Entry Point
         Difference in Mach	001-600 NM	601-1200 NM	1201-1800 NM	1801-2400 NM	2401-3000 NM
         0.01	11	12	13	14	15
         0.02	12	14	16	18	20
         0.03	13	16	19	22	25
         0.04	14	18	22	26	30
         0.05	15	20	25	30	35
         0.06	16	22	28	34	40
         0.07	17	24	31	38	45
         0.08	18	26	34	42	50
         0.09	19	28	37	46	55
         0.10	20	30	40	50	60