Aviation Glossary - Visual Separation

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Visual Separation

A means employed by ATC to separate aircraft in terminal areas and en route airspace in the NAS. There are two ways to effect this separation:

The tower controller sees the aircraft involved and issues instructions, as necessary, to ensure that the aircraft avoid each other.
A pilot sees the other aircraft involved and upon instructions from the controller provides his/her own separation by maneuvering his/her aircraft as necessary to avoid it. This may involve following another aircraft or keeping it in sight until it is no longer a factor.

source: FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary

the separation between two aircraft based on the pilots’ visual contact rather than a distance imposed by ATC

source: ICAO English Pro Aviation Glossary

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