“Maintain Visual Separation”

[JNev]

Other than wake turbulence application, what use does this phrase have in ATC? I repeatedly hear coworkers and NCT controllers use it and I don’t really understand saying it to a VFR pilot after they have traffic in sight. They’re flying VFR so legally they always have to maintain visual separation and also they should if they want to not collide with other A/C. Isn’t it just wasted verbiage and redundant?

 

[MJ]

I was told there have been interpretations sent down over the past five years first one way and then the other, and (according to the controller I was talking to) the current interpretation is that you don't have to say it. I haven't seen that in black and white myself.

The FAA implemented/withdrew/re-implemented this rule a few years ago with lots of headache over the usage of "maintain visual".

He's right, except he left off the part where they reinstated it. It originally came out, then was rescinded a few weeks later, then subsequently re-implemented shortly after that.