Description

Air traffic control service is a service provided for the purpose of:

• preventing collisions:
  • between aircraft, and
  • on the manoeuvring area between aircraft and obstructions; and
• expediting and maintaining an orderly flow of air traffic. (ICAO Annex 11)

Air traffic control service is provided:

• to all Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flights in airspace Classes A, B, C, D and E;
• to all Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flights in airspace Classes B, C and D;
• to all special VFR flights;
• to all aerodrome traffic at controlled aerodromes.

Clearances issued by air traffic control units provide separation:

• between all flights in airspace Classes A and B;
• between IFR flights in airspace Classes C, D and E;
• between IFR flights and VFR flights in airspace Class C;
• between IFR flights and special VFR flights;
• between special VFR flights when so prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority,

Further Reading

ICAO Annex 11 Chapter 3 ICAO Doc 4444: Procedures for Air Navigation Services- Air Traffic Management (PANS-ATM)