Some definitions

[nrshida]

I can only find civil airline definitions on t'internet so just to get the terminology right for my own personal ACM notes: is-

Lateral Separation simply the distance between two aircraft viewed from a theoretical upper orthogonal projection (no perspective). In other words - the linear shortest distance between two aircraft if there positions where dropped vertically downwards onto a map and then measured (ignoring height)?

Hence is Vertical Separation a measure of the difference in relative height between two aircraft (ignoring horizontal distance)?

[lunatic1]

? what did he say?
  

[FLS]

Lateral separation is how far apart you are. Vertical separation is the difference in altitude. Usually you'll have both.

Feel free to use that without attribution.

[nrshida]

Lateral separation is how far apart you are. Vertical separation is the difference in altitude. Usually you'll have both.

So lateral separation does take a difference in altitude into account? The term just means a measurement of a line drawn directly between two planes? If so are there terms which separate the axes in a two-dimensional fashion?

[FLS]

In a 3D environment separation has a vertical and lateral component. The vertical separation is also an energy difference.

For practical purposes you just use distance for separation with high, low, or level (co-alt,) to indicate energy differences.  An example in games with distance icons is "bandit 4k high 7 o'clock". 

Lateral separation by itself is not a useful concept. It's natural to use distance instead. Consider if you have 1000 ft lateral separation and 10,000 ft vertical separation. The lateral separation is not a factor.

With a co-alt merge lateral separation is tactically meaningful because it's turning room and it offsets the turn circles.

[Kanth]

a direct line between a and b in space.

[TequilaChaser]

I've always  viewed the term: lateral separation as being a combination of both vertical and horizontal when discussing gaining/obtaining separation before the merge....or positioning to merge / obtaining desired angles

Easier said : you want to gain lateral separation (combination of both vertical and horizontal distance) right before you start your initial merge, to obtain/gain an angles advantage at the 3-9 line....

Basically how nearly every Trainer I've seen explain/teach your basic merge technique....

[FLS]

Horizontal is a good term for defining the components of separation since it's relation is specific to the vertical.   

[TequilaChaser]

So lateral separation does take a difference in altitude into account? The term just means a measurement of a line drawn directly between two planes? If so are there terms which separate the axes in a two-dimensional fashion?

Side note: you don't want to and should not be thinking in 2 dimension, when discussing BFM and ACM

You should always be thinking in 3 dimensions

Hope this helps

[FLS]

TC while I agree that air combat is 3D a primary concept in ACM is the 2D turn circle.

[Kanth]

i think this maybe the technical definition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiVav5nBmOE

[FLS]

I only reference Dave Mathews for waste disposal do's and dont's. 

[morfiend]

I only reference Dave Mathews for waste disposal do's and dont's. 

  To be fair the waste disposal tank had a leak,it just happen to leak into a river!

  I do like his music tho!


   

[nrshida]

Ah thus, horizontal separation was the term I was after. Lateral spacing seems a bit misleading on reflection. Thanks all.

Side note: you don't want to and should not be thinking in 2 dimension, when discussing BFM and ACM

You should always be thinking in 3 dimensions

I agree TC and do that naturally although thinking might be a bit too high-brain for my normal trance-like flying state. Lately I'm forced to fly for a short while, stop, get rusty, fly for a short while, stop, get rusty. I also have some learning disabilities so I've found it helps me as an aide-memoire to make my own ACM notes. This was needed for a specific stratergy for a certain plane matchup I've been competing with a lot recently. The '2D components' of the 3D ACM was a good visual cue for myself.

Thank you for all the help (and music  )

[hgtonyvi]

Simply muscle memory when you get use to it.