4.63 Separation

4.63.2 Describe the method of passing traffic information using the clock code.

The clock code is used to describe the position of traffic relative to the nose of the receiving aircraft.

The receiving aircraft is treated as being in the centre of a clock face:

• 12 o’clock — directly ahead;
• 3 o’clock — directly to the right;
• 6 o’clock — directly behind;
• 9 o’clock — directly to the left.

Traffic information should be passed from the receiver’s point of view, not from the transmitting pilot’s point of view.

The call should normally include:

• the aircraft being called;
• the traffic position using the clock code;
• an approximate distance;
• relative level information, such as high, low, or same level; and
• any other useful information, such as aircraft type or direction of travel.

Example:

“ABC, traffic at your 2 o’clock, one mile, same level.”

This means the pilot of ABC should look about 60 degrees right of the nose, approximately one mile away, at about the same level.

A call such as “you are at my 2 o’clock” should be avoided, because it does not tell the receiving pilot where to look.

4.63.4 Describe the situations where Air Traffic Control is responsible for the provision of separation between VFR, SVFR and IFR traffic. AIP ENR