Interim Helicopter Separation Procedures

JO 7110.801 · FAA

Public domain · FAAOrders & Notices

Overview

The Interim Helicopter Separation Procedures (JO 7110.801) is a public-domain FAA order, republished here as a free chaptered HTML edition with a linked table of contents and the official PDF.

Publisher: FAA
Document: JO 7110.801
Pages: 2
Chapters: 3

Key points

The Interim Helicopter Separation Procedures are effective from March 18, 2026.
Visual separation is no longer permitted for helicopters or powered-lift aircraft crossing the flight paths of arriving or departing aircraft.
This revision modifies FAA Order JO 7110.65, specifically paragraph 7–2–1.
Visual separation may still be applied between aircraft up to but not including FL180, except for the specified helicopter or powered-lift aircraft.
The document will be canceled on December 24, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of the Interim Helicopter Separation Procedures?

The purpose is to address concerns about helicopter or powered-lift aircraft transiting across the flight paths of arriving and departing aircraft.

When do the new procedures take effect?

The new procedures are effective from March 18, 2026, at 1600Z.

What changes were made to visual separation rules?

Visual separation must cease for helicopters or powered-lift aircraft crossing the flight paths of arriving or departing aircraft.

Is visual separation still allowed for other aircraft?

Yes, visual separation may still be applied between other aircraft up to but not including FL180, under specified conditions.

When will this document be canceled?

This document will be canceled on December 24, 2026.

TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE

Next: Unclassified →

Unclassified

Next: Washington, DC 20591 →

Washington, DC 20591

TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE PRECEDENCE: SECURITY CLASSIFICATION Federal Aviation Administration IMMEDIATE 800 Independence Avenue, SW

Unclassified

ACTION: W a s h i n g t o n , D C 2 0 5 9 1 PRIORITY FILE: ACCOUNTING CLASSIFICATION DATE PREPARED: 03/ 1 8 /2026 FOR INFORMATION CALL NAME PHONE NUMBER TYPE OF MESSAGE Crystal L. Ball ( 202 ) 267 - 2715 _ SINGLE _ BOOK _ X _ MULTI ADDRESS MESSAGE TO BE TRANSMITTED (Use double spacing and all capital letters) To: KRWA NOUS2 181315Z GENOT RWA 26/14 N JO 7110.801 GG ALRGNS 1/500/530 AMC-1 AMA-500 ACT-1 ALATFO XVM EFFECTIVE: 03/18/2026 1600Z SUBJECT: INTERIM HELICOPTER SEPARATION PROCEDURES THIS GENOT REVISES FAA ORDER JO 7110.65, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, PARAGRAPH 7–2–1 IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS ABOUT HELICOPTER OR POWERED-LIFT AIRCRAFT TRANSITING ACROSS THE FLIGHT PATHS OF ARRIVING AND DEPARTING AIRCRAFT. VISUAL SEPARATION MUST CEASE BETWEEN HELICOPTER OR POWERED-LIFT AIRCRAFT CROSSING THE ARRIVAL OR DEPARTURE PATHS OF THESE AIRCRAFT.

FAA ORDER JO 7110.65, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, PARAGRAPH 7–2–1 VISUAL SEPARATION IS CHANGED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: P A G E NO. NO. OF PGS Security Classification

Unclassified

7–2–1. VISUAL SEPARATION TITLE THROUGH REFERENCE – NO CHANGE a. TERMINAL. EXCEPT FOR HELICOPTER OR POWERED-LIFT AIRCRAFT CROSSING THE FLIGHT PATH OF ARRIVING OR DEPARTING AIRCRAFT WITHIN CLASS B, CLASS C, OR TRSA AIRSPACE, VISUAL SEPARATION MAY BE APPLIED BETWEEN AIRCRAFT UP TO BUT NOT INCLUDING FL180, UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: NO FURTHER CHANGES TO PARAGRAPH THIS GENOT CANCELS ON DECEMBER 24, 2026.

PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS TO CRYSTAL L. BALL AT AJV-P3- MGR-ALL@FAA.GOV.

JON M. STOWE ACTING DIRECTOR, POLICY, AJV-P MISSION SUPPORT SERVICES P A G E NO. NO. OF PGS Security Classification