What is a pilot's responsibility when proceeding in accordance with a clearance or instruction?

When a pilot proceeds in accordance with a clearance or instruction, the pilot maintains the responsibility for traffic avoidance. This means that even when under the guidance or instructions of Air Traffic Control (ATC), the pilot must remain vigilant about other aircraft in the vicinity and ensure the safety of their flight. The pilot's role includes actively monitoring for potential conflicts with other traffic, regardless of whether they are following specific instructions or clearances.

This responsibility is fundamental to safe flying practices and emphasizes the need for situational awareness. While ATC provides directives and traffic advisories, the ultimate duty of avoiding collisions lies with the pilot. This principle underscores the importance of a pilot's ability to integrate both instructions from ATC with their own visual scanning and judgment skills.

Traffic avoidance is a critical element of flight safety and requires the pilot to constantly assess their surrounding environment while executing any clearance or instruction.