MIT is a longitudinal separation technique used by ATC to manage sequencing, spacing, and demand—especially when traffic flows into a constrained sector, airport, or terminal area. Instead of specifying a time interval (like Minutes-in-Trail), MIT specifies a distance that must exist between aircraft operating along the same route or converging routes.
Controllers apply MIT to:
Regulate arrival demand into busy TMAs (e.g., CYHZ, CYQM)
Manage flows crossing sector boundaries
Assist with sequencing for STARs or approach streams
Prevent overload when downstream capacity is reduced (weather, staffing, runway config, traffic, events)
