What is the primary function of traffic service in air traffic management?

The primary function of traffic service in air traffic management is to provide information about nearby traffic. This role is essential for ensuring the safety and efficiency of air traffic operations. By keeping pilots informed of the positions and movements of other aircraft in their vicinity, traffic service helps to prevent collisions and facilitates safe navigation through controlled airspace.

Providing information about nearby traffic encompasses a variety of functions, including relaying critical data like altitude, heading, and proximity of other aircraft, as well as alerting pilots to any potential traffic conflicts. This situational awareness enables pilots to execute safe maneuvers, maintain safe separation, and make informed decisions during flight.

The other options, while relevant to overall aviation safety, do not capture the primary role of traffic service. Severe weather warnings, while critical for flight safety, are typically the responsibility of meteorological services or different aspects of air traffic management. Gathering flight data from airlines is more focused on operational planning and monitoring rather than direct traffic management. Monitoring fuel levels of aircraft is relevant but falls under the remit of operational safety checks rather than the traffic service function specifically focused on airspace management.