In a nonradar environment, authorize takeoff of a succeeding aircraft from an intersecting runway when the preceding aircraft has _________, the runways diverge by 30° or more, and the courses will diverge by 45° or more.

• A. Passed the point of runway intersection
• B. Reached the hold short line
• C. Completed its climb
• D. Entered the runway intersection area

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that in nonradar operations with intersecting runways, you can authorize a second aircraft to take off once the first aircraft has cleared the critical crossing area where the runways intersect. When the runways diverge by 30° or more and the courses will diverge by 45° or more, the paths after crossing are sufficiently separated. So, once the preceding aircraft has passed the point of runway intersection, its flight path and the second aircraft’s takeoff path won’t conflict, providing safe initial separation.

If the first aircraft is still before or at the intersection (or already in the intersection area), there’s a real risk of path conflict with the second aircraft’s takeoff. Waiting until the first has passed the intersection is the safeguard that uses the geometry of the diverging paths to maintain separation.