How does air traffic control (ATC) separate traffic in Class C airspace?

In Class C airspace, air traffic control (ATC) is responsible for separating all aircraft, which includes both arriving and departing aircraft as well as those operating within the airspace. This separation is crucial for maintaining safety and minimizing the risk of collisions. ATC uses radar and communication to manage traffic effectively, ensuring that aircraft maintain safe distances from one another.

While having a transponder is a requirement for all aircraft operating in Class C airspace, it serves primarily to enhance situational awareness and improve tracking rather than directly providing separation. Allowing unregistered aircraft would compromise safety standards, and permitting VFR (Visual Flight Rules) traffic to enter without coordination could lead to conflicts with IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) traffic, undermining the safety measures established in Class C airspace.

Thus, the responsibility for providing ATC separation is the key aspect of managing Class C airspace and is the basis for the chosen answer.