Commercial Pilot License (CPL) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The primary function of primary radar is to track objects in the sky. Primary radar systems operate by emitting radio waves that bounce off objects and return to the radar system. By analyzing the time it takes for the waves to return and the direction from which they return, the radar can determine the location, speed, and movement of aircraft and other objects in the airspace. This tracking ability is crucial for air traffic control, as it allows controllers to monitor and manage the positions of different aircraft, ensuring safe distances between them.

The other options, although relevant to the broader context of aviation and air traffic management, do not accurately describe the fundamental role of primary radar. For example, searching for transponder transmissions is more closely associated with secondary radar, which relies on signals from aircraft transponders. Providing altitude and speed information is also a function more characteristically associated with secondary systems. Managing air traffic control communications focuses on communication rather than tracking and does not pertain specifically to the radar's primary function. Thus, the emphasis on tracking objects in the sky distinctly identifies the correct answer.