Which aviation control entity is primarily responsible for radar coverage and vectoring IFR aircraft?

The correct answer is that ARTCCs (Air Route Traffic Control Centers) are primarily responsible for providing radar coverage and vectoring IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) aircraft. ARTCCs play a crucial role in managing the flow of air traffic across vast distances within the United States. They utilize radar technology to monitor aircraft positions and provide air traffic controllers with the ability to communicate directions to pilots, which includes turning, altitude changes, and sequencing of aircraft in the airspace.

This responsibility encompasses ensuring safe distances between aircraft, providing timely information to pilots, and coordinating with other control entities, such as terminal control facilities and approach control. The extensive networks of radar systems allow ARTCCs to maintain situational awareness of all IFR flights within their designated airspace, which is vital for safety in busy air corridors.

Other entities mentioned have specific but different roles: FSSs (Flight Service Stations) provide weather briefings and flight planning assistance but do not manage air traffic with radar; ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) transmits essential information to arriving and departing pilots but does not engage in the active management of aircraft movement; and airports serve as physical locations for aircraft operations but do not take on responsibility for air traffic control on the scale handled by ARTCCs.