My comments in text:



"Peter R." wrote in message
...
Bill Denton ) wrote:

I had a minute so I looked this up; you misread the AIM.

You and I have been through this before. The AIM is not regulatory and
perhaps you might want to re-read that passage. It appears to me that
you have misinterpreted it.

Regulatory/no-regulatory is immaterial. This portion of the AIM simply
states what services will be offered to pilots by ATC.




Let's break this down:

b. Separation will be provided (by ATC - my note) between all aircraft
operating on IFR flight plans except during that part of the flight
(outside
of Class B airspace or a TRSA) being conducted on a VFR-on-top/VFR
conditions clearance.

Please show me where in that passage above does it say anything about
IFR aircraft being separated from VFR aircraft. Note the operative
word "between" being used there. I interpret the passage to be
discussing IFR aircraft being separated from IFR aircraft.

The separation of VFR/IFR aircraft is not covered in this section; the
separation of ALL aircraft is discussed in the previous section.

The purpose of this section is to remind VFR-on-top-pilots that while they
are on an IFR flight plan, ATC has allowed them to deviate and fly under VFR
rules (including see and avoid) and that ATC is not obligated to provide
traffic guidance.



To paraphrase and clarify: If you are "outside of Class B airspace or a
TRSA" and flying on a "VFR-on-top/VFR conditions clearance", "ATC may
issue
traffic advisories, but it is the sole responsibility of the pilot to be
vigilant so as to see and avoid other aircraft". Otherwise, "Separation
will
be provided (by ATC - my note) between all aircraft operating on IFR
flight
plans".

There, you stated it, too. "BETWEEN all aircraft operating on IFR
flight plans." Where does it say anything about ATC's responsibility
about separation between those aircraft on IFR flight plans and those on
VFR flight plans? Not in that passage it doesn't.

As I stated above, VFR-on-top operations are conducted on IFR flight plans
and the purpose of this section is to explain the services to be provided or
not provided by ATC to VFR-on-top pilots.






--
Peter