Question about Class E

[Cobra64]

I have a question that has been bothering me for a while now. According to RAC 2.8.5

"Operations may be conducted under IFR or VFR. ATC
separation is provided only to aircraft operating under IFR"

My question is how does IFR traffic get separation from VFR traffic. I can go up and fly a Victor Airway VFR, so is it only cruising altitudes that keep us apart? Or is class E airspace all covered by at least primary radar so they can tell the IFR traffic that there is VFR traffic along his path of flight? Hope this makes sense. Thanks

[BTD]

To take that even one step further. The same is true for class D.

2.8.4 Class D Airspace

Class D airspace is a controlled airspace within which both IFR and VFR flights are permitted, but VFR flights must establish two-way communication with the appropriate ATC agency prior to entering the airspace. ATC separation is provided only to IFR aircraft. Aircraft will be provided with traffic information. Equipment and workload permitting, conflict resolution will be provided between VFR and IFR aircraft, and upon request between VFR aircraft.

You must always be on the lookout for VFR traffic if flying IFR. Theory being if it is IMC, VFR traffic shouldn't be there. If it is VMC, you should be able to see them. I am thankful to TCAS but still have to watch for the non-transponder guys.

[Cobra64]

makes sense, Thanks.

[wannabepilot]

Just because it is IMC does not mean you will not encounter VFR aircraft; special VFR can be granted for VFR aircraft to operate in IMC. As for the issue of separation: the fact that separation is not being provided between VFR and IFR aircraft does not mean that we are just passing traffic and closing our eyes and crossing our fingers. Keeping VFR aircraft away from IFR aircraft is one of the biggest parts of our job. My instructors said that separation in this context is referring to the separation that you would provide between 2 IFR aircraft, defined as a certain number of feet vertically, and/or time/distance laterally (I am not an IFR controller, so I can't speak to the specifics). We still 'separate' IFR from VFR, but we do it using visual or geographic separation (i.e. assist the VFR aircraft with sighting the IFR aircraft, then give the instruction to follow; or instruct the VFR aircraft to join final at, or extend downwind to a certain point, for example). Conflict resolution in this context does not simply mean keeping two aircraft that are in conflict with each other apart; it refers to a specific type of radar separation that VFR controllers can provide (that would be the equipment permitting part). If your entire control zone lies within 60 NM of the radar site, and the radar PPS (an aircraft's 'blip' on the radar screen) is set to a specific minimum size, you can separate the aircraft by ensuring that their PPS symbols do not touch. In class 'C' airspace, we can restrict VFR aircraft from entering the control zone. In class 'D' airspace, VFR aircraft only need to establish 2 way comms to enter the zone; however, once in the control zone, they still fall under positive control of the tower. As I said above, protecting IFR aircraft and their flightpath is one of our biggest responsiblilities. If you are flying into a control zone where VFR aircraft are being allowed to go wherever they want and are interfering with your flight, you should be speaking with the site manager or unit operations speacialist.