Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) Practice Test 2026 - Free ATSA Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary function of an approach controller is to manage aircraft as they approach an airport for landing. This involves coordinating the sequence and spacing of arriving aircraft to ensure safe and orderly descents and approaches to the runway. The approach controller works within a terminal airspace environment, where they use radar, communications, and procedural knowledge to ensure that aircraft are safely guided from en-route phases to the final stages of landing.

This role is critical in maintaining a safe distance between aircraft and managing traffic flow, especially in busy airport environments where multiple aircraft may be approaching simultaneously. Approach controllers are responsible for giving instructions related to altitude changes, speed adjustments, and sequencing to ensure that aircraft can land safely and efficiently.

Other roles, such as managing aircraft during taxiing or supervising takeoff processes, involve different aspects of air traffic control and pertain to ground control or tower operations, which focus on aircraft movement on runways and taxiways. Providing weather updates, while essential for flight safety, is not a primary function of an approach controller.