The air traffic control (ATC) service is established to accomplish the first three objectives. While the first and third are universally applicable to all ATC units, the second one is only relevant to aerodrome control units. The fourth objective is covered by the flight information service (FIS) and the last one is the subject of the alerting service.

As seen from the definition, there is a fourth type of ATS, the The advisory service. No has no specific objectives are defined for this type of service. It is considered a temporary measure to facilitate the smoother transition from FIS to ATC.

Air Traffic Management is the aggregation of the airborne functions and ground-based functions required to ensure the safe and efficient movement of aircraft during all phases of operations to enable aircraft operators to meet their planned times of departure and arrival and adhere to their preferred flight profiles with minimum constraints and without compromising agreed levels of safety.