What is the minimum altitude separation before directing a rejoin during a blind, NORDO situation?

In a blind, NORDO (No Radio) situation, maintaining safe separation between aircraft is paramount to ensure safety during maneuvers such as a rejoin. The minimum altitude separation before directing a rejoin is 500 feet. This standard allows for adequate vertical space between aircraft, reducing the risk of a collision, especially since visibility and communication may be compromised in a NORDO scenario. The 500-foot separation provides an additional buffer that can be especially important when one aircraft is unable to communicate with others, as it minimizes the chance of mistaken altitude assumptions or misjudgments when performing the rejoin maneuver.

Other altitude separations, like 300 ft, 1,000 ft, or 1,500 ft, do not meet the specific safety requirements outlined for rejoining in this context of operational protocols, which emphasize the necessity of a minimum of 500 feet to ensure safe integration of aircraft in the absence of verbal communication.