Soar to Success: Nail the 2026 Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) Practice Test!

When aircraft are on a collision course with a 135-degree divergence, it indicates that their paths are converging at a relatively steep angle. In such situations, maintaining adequate separation between aircraft is crucial to prevent mid-air collisions and ensure safety. The controller’s role is to monitor the situation, assess the proximity of the aircraft, and intervene to keep them safely apart.

Providing separation may involve issuing clearances, adjusting altitudes, or altering routes. This proactive approach ensures that the aircraft maintain a safe distance from one another during their flight paths, minimizing the risk of an incident.

While notifying pilots, changing departure times, or canceling one flight can be important strategies in certain contexts, the immediate and essential action when faced with a potential collision course is for the controller to ensure proper separation. This action directly addresses the primary concern of air traffic safety.