A Non-Linear Relationship between Controller Workload and Traffic Count

Controller workload has been a focal topic in air traffic management research because it is considered a key limiting factor to capacity increase in air traffic operations. Because workload ratings are subjective and highly prone to individual differences, some researchers have tried to replace workload with more objective metrics, such as aircraft count. A significant caveat in substituting these metrics for workload ratings, however, is that their relationships are non-linear. For example, as the number of aircraft increases linearly, the controller's perceived workload jumps from low to high at a certain traffic threshold, resulting in a stepfunction increase in workload with respect to aircraft count, suggesting that controllers perceive workload categorically. The non-linear relationship between workload and aircraft count has been validated using data collected from a recent study on the En Route Free Maneuvering concept element (Lee, Prevot, Mercer, Smith, & Palmer, 2005). The results suggest that objective metrics, such as aircraft count, may not be used interchangeably with subjective workload. In addition, any estimation on workload should not be extrapolated from a set of workload measures taken from an experiment since the extrapolated workload is likely to significantly underestimate workload.

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Real-Time Trajectory Optimisation Models for Next Generation Air Traffic Management Systems

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.629.327 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 629 ◽

pp. 327-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Alessandro Gardi ◽

Roberto Sabatini ◽

Subramanian Ramasamy ◽

Trevor Kistan

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Traffic Management ◽

Air Traffic Management ◽

Air Traffic ◽

Management Systems ◽

Next Generation ◽

Traffic Operations ◽

Multi Objective ◽

Environmental Objectives ◽

Operational Constraints

This paper presents models and algorithms for real-time 4-Dimensional Flight Trajectory (4DT) operations in the next generation Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) systems. In particular, the models are employed for multi-objective optimisation of 4DT intents in ground-based 4DT Planning, Negotiation and Validation (4-PNV) systems and in airborne Next Generation Flight Management Systems (NG-FMS). The assumed timeframe convention for offline and online air traffic operations is introduced and discussed. The adopted formulation of the multi-objective 4DT optimisation problem includes a number of environmental objectives and operational constraints. In particular, the paper describes a real-time multi-objective optimisation algorithm and the generalised expression of cost function adopted for penalties associated with specific airspace volumes, accounting for weather models, condensation trails models and noise models.

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Effects of fragmentation on route charges

Competition and Regulation in Network Industries ◽

10.1177/1783591719866105 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 290-304

Author(s):

Goran Pavlović ◽

Frank Fichert

Keyword(s):

Traffic Management ◽

Service Providers ◽

Air Traffic Management ◽

Air Traffic ◽

Traffic Operations ◽

Charging System ◽

Navigation Service ◽

Fuel Consumption And Emissions ◽

Pair Level ◽

Additional Fuel

The European Air Traffic Management (ATM) system is highly fragmented. It consists of 37 air navigation service providers (ANSPs) whose areas of responsibility are, in most cases, limited to national borders. ATM fragmentation impacts air traffic operations in Europe in several ways. One of them is reflected through the current route charging system, which is designed and adapted to the fragmented ATM system to recover air navigation service provision costs at the level of individual ANSPs. Differences in unit rates have led to the phenomenon of aircraft taking detours around expensive charging zones, resulting in additional fuel consumption and emissions, as well as traffic shifts caused by varying unit rates. In this article, we analyze the differences in the unit rates across Europe and their evolution over the past few years. The main focus of the article is the analysis of the route charge variability on an airport-pair level, measured by an airport-pair variability indicator, which we suggest as a metric. We show the route charge variability for different flight distances, geographic areas, and flight directions, and we also identify airport pairs with the highest route charge variability. Finally, we discuss selected alternatives to the current route charging system, such as the uniform charge method and different approaches to airport-pair charging.

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Safety Culture and Safety-Relevant Behavior in Air Traffic Management

Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors ◽

10.1027/2192-0923/a000068 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 3-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Michaela Schwarz ◽

K. Wolfgang Kallus

Keyword(s):

Safety Culture ◽

Traffic Management ◽

Service Providers ◽

Five Factor Model ◽

Principal Component ◽

Air Traffic Management ◽

Air Traffic ◽

Psychometric Validation ◽

Safety Attitudes ◽

Culture Development

Since 2010, air navigation service providers have been mandated to implement a positive and proactive safety culture based on shared beliefs, assumptions, and values regarding safety. This mandate raised the need to develop and validate a concept and tools to assess the level of safety culture in organizations. An initial set of 40 safety culture questions based on eight themes underwent psychometric validation. Principal component analysis was applied to data from 282 air traffic management staff, producing a five-factor model of informed culture, reporting and learning culture, just culture, and flexible culture, as well as management’s safety attitudes. This five-factor solution was validated across two different occupational groups and assessment dates (construct validity). Criterion validity was partly achieved by predicting safety-relevant behavior on the job through three out of five safety culture scores. Results indicated a nonlinear relationship with safety culture scales. Overall the proposed concept proved reliable and valid with respect to safety culture development, providing a robust foundation for managers, safety experts, and operational and safety researchers to measure and further improve the level of safety culture within the air traffic management context.

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