A separação visual é abordada especificamente no AIM (veja abaixo). É uma instrução ATC dada às vezes quando o piloto reporta outra aeronave à vista. O ATC é então capaz de instruir o piloto a "manter a separação visual" da outra aeronave, e não importa se eles são IFR ou VFR.
Em seguida, torna-se bastante simples:
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Não acerte o outro avião!
- Faça o que tiver que fazer para evitá-los. (Normalmente, isso não é nada, já que você se aproxima mais do que a ATC pode permitir que você o contrate.)
- Se você estiver em uma autorização específica do ATC, notifique o ATC imediatamente se tiver que fazer algo contrário a essa autorização.
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Mantenha a outra aeronave à vista.
- Informe imediatamente o ATC se você os perder de vista.
- Evite a turbulência de vigília da outra aeronave.
A separação de radar padrão não se aplica mais, pois o piloto aceitou a responsabilidade de separação da aeronave específica à qual a autorização se aplica. Isso permite que o ATC deixe as aeronaves voarem em rotas mais eficientes (não ter que se virar para evitar a outra aeronave) e também permite que mais aeronaves pousem em um determinado período de tempo, porque elas podem estar mais próximas na final.
Os pilotos têm que usar o bom senso de quão perto eles chegam da outra aeronave, mas isso é feito visualmente. Eles podem usar quaisquer ferramentas à sua disposição para ajudar (TCAS, perguntando ao ATC o quão longe eles estão, etc.), mas tudo se resume a "isso parece bom o suficiente para mim".
Section 5. Pilot/Controller Roles and Responsibilities
a. Pilot.
1. Acceptance of instructions to follow another aircraft or to provide visual separation from it is an acknowledgment that the pilot will maneuver the aircraft as necessary to avoid the other aircraft or to maintain in‐trail separation. Pilots are responsible to maintain visual separation until flight paths (altitudes and/or courses) diverge.
2. If instructed by ATC to follow another aircraft or to provide visual separation from it, promptly notify the controller if you lose sight of that aircraft, are unable to maintain continued visual contact with it, or cannot accept the responsibility for your own separation for any reason.
3. The pilot also accepts responsibility for wake turbulence separation under these conditions.
b. Controller. Applies visual separation only:
1. Within the terminal area when a controller has both aircraft in sight or by instructing a pilot who sees the other aircraft to maintain visual separation from it.
2. Pilots are responsible to maintain visual separation until flight paths (altitudes and/or courses) diverge.
3. Within en route airspace when aircraft are on opposite courses and one pilot reports having seen the other aircraft and that the aircraft have passed each other.
Mais informações estão aqui:
a. Visual separation is a means employed by ATC to separate aircraft in terminal areas and en route airspace in the NAS. There are two methods employed to effect this separation:
1. The tower controller sees the aircraft involved and issues instructions, as necessary, to ensure that the aircraft avoid each other.
2. A pilot sees the other aircraft involved and upon instructions from the controller provides separation by maneuvering the aircraft to avoid it. When pilots accept responsibility to maintain visual separation, they must maintain constant visual surveillance and not pass the other aircraft until it is no longer a factor.
NOTE- Traffic is no longer a factor when during approach phase the other aircraft is in the landing phase of flight or executes a missed approach; and during departure or en route, when the other aircraft turns away or is on a diverging course.
b. A pilot's acceptance of instructions to follow another aircraft or provide visual separation from it is an acknowledgment that the pilot will maneuver the aircraft as necessary to avoid the other aircraft or to maintain in-trail separation. In operations conducted behind heavy jet aircraft, it is also an acknowledgment that the pilot accepts the responsibility for wake turbulence separation.
NOTE- When a pilot has been told to follow another aircraft or to provide visual separation from it, the pilot should promptly notify the controller if visual contact with the other aircraft is lost or cannot be maintained or if the pilot cannot accept the responsibility for the separation for any reason.
c. Scanning the sky for other aircraft is a key factor in collision avoidance. Pilots and copilots (or the right seat passenger) should continuously scan to cover all areas of the sky visible from the cockpit. Pilots must develop an effective scanning technique which maximizes one's visual capabilities. Spotting a potential collision threat increases directly as more time is spent looking outside the aircraft. One must use timesharing techniques to effectively scan the surrounding airspace while monitoring instruments as well.
d. Since the eye can focus only on a narrow viewing area, effective scanning is accomplished with a series of short, regularly spaced eye movements that bring successive areas of the sky into the central visual field. Each movement should not exceed ten degrees, and each area should be observed for at least one second to enable collision detection. Although many pilots seem to prefer the method of horizontal back-and-forth scanning every pilot should develop a scanning pattern that is not only comfortable but assures optimum effectiveness. Pilots should remember, however, that they have a regulatory responsibility (14 CFR Section 91.113(a)) to see and avoid other aircraft when weather conditions permit.
Para mais informações, há uma seção inteira do auxiliar de trabalho do Controle de Tráfego Aéreo que os controladores usam sobre a separação visual.