See and Avoid

AIM ¶ 5-5-8 — See and Avoid

AIM 5-5-8 explains pilot see-and-avoid duties and ATC traffic/safety alert responsibilities. Study guide for pilot written exams and checkride prep.

In Plain English

AIM 5-5-8 spells out the shared responsibility between pilots and controllers for collision and terrain avoidance.

Pilot responsibility: Whenever meteorological conditions permit (i.e., you can see outside), you must see and avoid other traffic, terrain, and obstacles. This duty applies:

Regardless of whether you're on a VFR or IFR flight plan
Whether or not you're being worked by a radar facility

In other words, ATC services and an IFR clearance do not relieve you of looking out the window in VMC.

Controller responsibility:

Provides radar traffic information (traffic advisories) to radar-identified aircraft outside positive control airspace, but only on a workload permitting basis.
Issues safety alerts to aircraft under their control when the controller is aware the aircraft is at an altitude believed to place it in unsafe proximity to terrain, obstructions, or other aircraft.

Why it matters operationally: Traffic advisories are a backup, not a guarantee. In VMC, your eyes are the primary collision-avoidance tool. Knowing this division of duties is a frequent oral exam topic and reinforces good scan technique on every flight.

AIM Source Text

FAA AIM ¶ 5-5-8

5-5-8. 5-5-8. See and Avoid Pilot. When meteorological conditions permit, regardless of type of flight plan or whether or not under control of a radar facility, the pilot is responsible to see and avoid other traffic, terrain, or obstacles. Controller. Provides radar traffic information to radar identified aircraft operating outside positive control airspace on a workload permitting basis. Issues safety alerts to aircraft under their control if aware the aircraft is at an altitude believed to place the aircraft in unsafe proximity to terrain, obstructions, or other aircraft.

Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask

Q1Who is responsible for seeing and avoiding other traffic when you're on an IFR flight plan in VMC?

Per AIM 5-5-8, the pilot is responsible to see and avoid other traffic, terrain, and obstacles whenever meteorological conditions permit, regardless of the type of flight plan or whether the flight is under radar control.

Q2What traffic services does ATC provide to radar-identified aircraft outside positive control airspace?

Per AIM 5-5-8, the controller provides radar traffic information on a workload permitting basis to radar-identified aircraft operating outside positive control airspace.

Q3When will a controller issue a safety alert?

Per AIM 5-5-8, controllers issue safety alerts to aircraft under their control when they are aware the aircraft is at an altitude believed to place it in unsafe proximity to terrain, obstructions, or other aircraft.

Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 5

¶ 5-5-1

Pilot/Controller Responsibilities