Why does an airport departure time NOT provide separation for an aircraft departing KJAN or KGWO needing separation at MHZ or SQS?

The correct answer is that the airports and VORTACs are not co-located. This means that the geographical placement of the departure airports (KJAN and KGWO) and the navigation aids (MHZ or SQS) creates a situation where the vertical or lateral separation required for safe flight cannot be guaranteed simply based on the timing of departures.

In air traffic control, separation is essential to prevent aircraft from coming too close to each other. When airports and their respective navigation aids are not co-located, one aircraft's departure and initial climb may intersect the airspace of another aircraft that is already established in the vicinity of the VORTACs. This lack of physical separation can lead to conflicts between the departing aircraft and those already in the airspace, undermining safety protocols.

Understanding this concept is vital for controlling departures and ensuring that the airspace remains safe and organized, necessitating the use of additional separation methods rather than relying solely on departure times.