In a radar environment, how many degrees must courses diverge for successive departures from the same airport?

In a radar environment, courses must diverge by at least 15 degrees for successive departures from the same airport. This divergence is essential to reduce the risk of conflicts and ensure safe navigation for departing aircraft.

By maintaining this minimum separation angle, air traffic control can provide adequate spacing between departing aircraft, which aids in managing their climb paths and minimizes the likelihood of any potential collision. It is a critical factor in airspace management, helping to maintain situational awareness for both pilots and controllers.

While higher divergence angles can enhance safety, 15 degrees is the established minimum that strikes a balance between efficient departure procedures and safety considerations in busy airspaces. This standard is crucial for preventing situations where aircraft could potentially follow very similar paths immediately after takeoff, which could lead to hazardous situations.