What is the primary function of ground control in air traffic services?

The primary function of ground control in air traffic services is to assist aircraft in taxiing on the ground. Ground control plays a vital role in ensuring safety and efficiency at airports by directing aircraft during their movements on the taxiways and ramp areas before takeoff and after landing. This involves providing instructions to pilots on taxiing routes, ensuring that they avoid collisions with other aircraft, vehicles, and obstacles, as well as managing ground traffic flow to reduce delays and maintain order at busy airports.

While managing aircraft during takeoff and landing is indeed crucial, this responsibility typically falls under the purview of the tower control, which handles operations during the aircraft's ascent and descent phases. Providing weather updates is important but is managed by separate services and not directly part of ground control's function. Additionally, coordinating aircraft departing from gates is related to gate management and ramp services, which also aligns more with other air traffic service roles. Ground control's specific focus is on the movements of aircraft on the ground until they are handed off to tower control for departure.