What is a controller's first priority?

The first priority of a controller is to separate aircraft and issue safety alerts, ensuring that aircraft maintain safe distances from one another in flight and on the ground. This safety assurance is crucial in preventing mid-air collisions and accidents, which is the primary responsibility of air traffic controllers. They continuously monitor the position and movements of aircraft to maintain safe distances, coordinate communications between pilots and other ground personnel, and respond to unexpected situations that could compromise safety.

While issuing flight plans, managing ground traffic, and clearing arrivals and departures are all important tasks that a controller performs, they are secondary to the overarching objective of ensuring safety through proper aircraft separation and alerting pilots to any potential hazards. This focus on safety and separation is what defines a controller's primary role in aviation operations.