Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) PracticeTest

What is the first duty priority of an air traffic controller?

1. Separation of IFR traffic

2. Coordination with other controllers

3. Providing weather updates

4. Assisting pilots with navigation

The correct answer is: Separation of IFR traffic

The first duty priority of an air traffic controller is indeed the separation of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) traffic. This responsibility is critical because maintaining safe distances between aircraft is essential for preventing collisions and ensuring the safe and efficient movement of air traffic. Air traffic controllers use various procedures and tools to monitor aircraft positions, manage their altitudes, and control their movements, all with the primary goal of separating aircraft effectively. While coordination with other controllers, providing weather updates, and assisting pilots with navigation are also important responsibilities of an air traffic controller, they are secondary to the fundamental need to ensure safety through proper separation of aircraft. The necessity to prioritize separation stems from regulatory requirements and practices designed to uphold the highest level of safety in aviation. Therefore, ensuring that IFR traffic is adequately separated is paramount in the array of tasks that an air traffic controller must perform.