Why is it important to conduct visual scanning during flight?

Conducting visual scanning during flight is crucial primarily for avoiding potential collisions and ensuring safety. Visual scanning involves systematically observing the surrounding environment for other aircraft, obstacles, weather conditions, and navigational aids. This practice helps pilots maintain situational awareness and make timely decisions based on what they see outside the cockpit. By effectively using visual scanning techniques, pilots can detect and react to potential hazards much faster than relying solely on instruments or automated systems, thereby significantly enhancing safety during various phases of flight.

Other considerations like preparing for landing, monitoring performance indicators, and managing fuel consumption are important tasks, but they do not directly emphasize the necessity of visual scanning as a safety measure in avoiding collisions.