Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Comprehensive Guide to Exam Success

Airport Traffic Control Towers are responsible for managing the airspace within their jurisdiction, which includes providing positive and preventive air traffic control for both Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft. Positive control refers to the active communication and directions given to aircraft to ensure safe and orderly flow of traffic. This is crucial for avoiding collisions and managing aircraft during takeoff, landing, and in the airspace around the airport.

Preventive control involves implementing strategies to prevent potential conflicts before they arise. Controllers utilize radar and visual observations to anticipate and mitigate risks associated with aircraft operating in their airspace. By guiding both VFR and IFR aircraft, air traffic controllers ensure that all planes, regardless of their flying rules, adhere to safety standards.

VFR aircraft rely on visual cues for navigation and separation, while IFR aircraft operate in more controlled conditions under instrument navigation. However, the fundamental role of the traffic control tower encompasses both types of operations, emphasizing its comprehensive safety and management role in the airport environment. Therefore, the statement that Airport Traffic Control Towers provide positive and preventive control for both VFR and IFR aircraft is indeed true.