Vertical separation (aviation)

Vertical separation in aviation means keeping planes at different heights in the sky so they don't crash into each other. It's like when you and your friend are walking on the sidewalk, you don't want to bump into each other, so you walk on separate parts of the sidewalk.

When planes are flying, they each have a special "altitude" or "height" that they need to stay at. An airplane controller on the ground helps each pilot know what altitude they should be at and makes sure they don't get too close to other planes.

For example, if one plane is flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet, the controller will tell another plane to fly at an altitude of 34,000 feet. That way, they're not in the same space and they won't bump into each other.

Vertical separation is important because it keeps all the planes in the sky safe and makes sure they can all get to where they're going without any problems. It's like playing a game of "Red Light, Green Light" in the sky - everyone has to stay in their own space to avoid any accidents.