What is the role of Approach Control Services?

The role of Approach Control Services is to manage the safe and efficient arrival and departure of aircraft flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) as well as Visual Flight Rules (VFR) around controlled aerodromes. This service is critical for ensuring the separation of aircraft, maintaining safety during the final approach, and coordinating takeoffs and landings.

By providing guidance to both IFR and VFR flights, Approach Control Services facilitate smooth traffic flow at busy airports, helping to prevent potential conflicts and maintain situational awareness among pilots. This dual capability is essential, as many airports cater to both types of operations, and managing the interactions between them is vital for safety and efficiency.

In contrast, dealing exclusively with IFR flights en-route, managing operations around uncontrolled aerodromes, or providing VFR traffic advisories do not encapsulate the full scope of services that Approach Control provides, which includes oversight of both IFR and VFR traffic arriving and departing from controlled aerodromes. This comprehensive oversight is vital for maintaining aviation safety in increasingly crowded airspace.