What is the primary purpose of air traffic control (ATC)?

The primary purpose of air traffic control (ATC) is to provide separation between aircraft for safety. This function is critical in ensuring that aircraft maintain safe distances from one another throughout all phases of flight, including takeoff, landing, and while en route. ATC works to prevent mid-air collisions and ensure that aircraft can operate safely in busy airspace.

Safe separation is achieved through a combination of radar surveillance, communication with pilots, and established air traffic procedures. By directing the flow of air traffic and coordinating the movements of various aircraft, ATC ensures that each flight can proceed without risk of coming too close to another aircraft. This is especially vital in congested airspace, where numerous flights may be operating simultaneously.

The other options relate to aspects of aviation but do not encompass the primary role of ATC. For example, while fuel costs can be affected indirectly by the efficiency of air traffic operations, reducing these costs is not the main goal of ATC. Similarly, enforcing flight speed limits and managing pilots' behavioral reports are secondary functions that do not capture the primary focus of ATC, which is fundamentally about ensuring safety through effective separation of aircraft.