Risk Management in Air Traffic Control “Operator’s Risk – Back to Basics”

Method of risk assessment in decision-making to develop an automated air traffic control system under uncertainty

Telecommunication and information technologies ◽

10.31673/2412-4338.2020.041625 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 69 (4) ◽

Author(s):

P. G. Berdnik ◽

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O. I. Tymochko ◽

А. V. Samokish ◽

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...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Risk Management ◽

Control Systems ◽

Traffic Control ◽

Air Traffic Control ◽

Air Traffic ◽

Assessment Model ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Automated Systems ◽

Management Tools

This article provides an overview of the methods used in practice to assess the risks that arise in the process of designing automated air traffic control systems. The classification of risks and possible negative consequences of risks are determined. Based on this analysis, it is concluded that in order to increase the success of the design process, risk management tools are needed, including the accumulation of risk management experience for its further use. To achieve this goal, a risk assessment model for the development of automated air traffic control systems based on explicit and implicit expertise, including an analysis of situations in which risk processing is required. With the emergence of fundamentally new automated systems, the problem of risk assessment of design as a strategic direction of automation and intellectualization of relevant processes in various fields of science and technology. Note that in this context, the concept of automated systems includes such concepts as "complex phenomena", "complex technological processes", "complex systems", including the person himself, which is considered as an element responsible for the generation, storage and use of knowledge. The peculiarity of modern automated systems is that they operate in conditions given, as a rule, by a finite set of quantitative and non-quantitative (verbal) variables and corresponding constraints. At the same time, many risk assessment tasks are formed and described both verbally in the professional language of this field of knowledge, and formally using different classes of models. The proposed method of risk assessment of the development of ACS by air traffic is based on production rules, which provides the opportunity to accumulate and use the experience of overcoming the risks of the project, and thus increases the success of the project.

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Workload Perception of Air Traffic Control Officers and Pilots During Continuous Descent Operations Approach Procedures

Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors ◽

10.1027/2192-0923/a000154 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 2-11

Author(s):

Marina Efthymiou ◽

Frank Fichert ◽

Olaf Lantzsch

Keyword(s):

Fuel Consumption ◽

Traffic Control ◽

Air Traffic Control ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Air Traffic ◽

Reduce Fuel Consumption ◽

Total Load ◽

Open Path

Abstract. The paper examines the workload perceived by air traffic control officers (ATCOs) and pilots during continuous descent operations (CDOs), applying closed- and open-path procedures. CDOs reduce fuel consumption and noise emissions. Therefore, they are supported by airports as well as airlines. However, their use often depends on pilots asking for CDOs and controllers giving approval and directions. An adapted NASA Total Load Index (TLX) was used to measure the workload perception of ATCOs and pilots when applying CDOs at selected European airports. The main finding is that ATCOs’ workload increased when giving both closed- and open-path CDOs, which may have a negative impact on their willingness to apply CDOs. The main problem reported by pilots was insufficient distance-to-go information provided by ATCOs. The workload change is important when considering the use of CDOs.

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How to Evaluate Remote Tower Metrics in Connection With Weather Observations

Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors ◽

10.1027/2192-0923/a000142 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 100-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Maik Friedrich ◽

Christoph Möhlenbrink

Keyword(s):

Traffic Control ◽

Air Traffic Control ◽

Influential Factors ◽

Air Traffic ◽

Weather Event ◽

Evaluation Of Performance ◽

Weather Events ◽

Weather Observations ◽

Validation Experiment ◽

Remote Controller

Abstract. Owing to the different approaches for remote tower operation, a standardized set of indicators is needed to evaluate the technical implementations at a task performance level. One of the most influential factors for air traffic control is weather. This article describes the influence of weather metrics on remote tower operations and how to validate them against each other. Weather metrics are essential to the evaluation of different remote controller working positions. Therefore, weather metrics were identified as part of a validation at the Erfurt-Weimar Airport. Air traffic control officers observed weather events at the tower control working position and the remote control working position. The eight participating air traffic control officers answered time-synchronized questionnaires at both workplaces. The questionnaires addressed operationally relevant weather events in the aerodrome. The validation experiment targeted the air traffic control officer’s ability to categorize and judge the same weather event at different workplaces. The results show the potential of standardized indicators for the evaluation of performance and the importance of weather metrics in relation to other evaluation metrics.

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