Expertise in Air Traffic Control (ATC): What is it, and how Can we Train for It?

1992 ◽  
Vol 36 (17) ◽  
pp. 1326-1330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Redding ◽  
John R. Cannon ◽  
Thomas L. Seamster
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Task Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Cognitive Task Analysis ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Curriculum Redesign ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Training Efficiency

The Federal Aviation Administration has embarked on a major curriculum redesign effort to improve the training efficiency of en route air traffic controllers. Included in this effort was a comprehensive cognitive task analysis conducted in several phases, spanning several years. Eight different types of data collection and analysis procedures were used, resulting in an integrated model of controller expertise. This paper provides a description of controller expertise, and describes the training program under development. This is one of the first examples of cognitive task analysis being applied to study expertise in complex cognitive tasks performed in time-constrained, multi-tasking environments.

Analysis of Operational Errors and Workload in Air Traffic Control

1992 ◽  
Vol 36 (17) ◽  
pp. 1321-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Redding
Keyword(s):  
Situation Awareness ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Task Analysis ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Performance Tasks ◽  
Operational Errors

The Federal Aviation Administration has embarked on a major curriculum redesign effort to improve the training of en route air traffic controllers. Included in this effort was a cognitive task analysis. One component of the task analysis was an analysis of operational errors, to obtain insights into cognitive-perceptual factors contributing to controller decisionmaking error. The data suggest that a failure to maintain situation awareness is the primary cause of controller error. These results highlight the importance of the controller task “maintain situation awareness”, and are consistent with the findings of the other analyses. An approach for training situation awareness skills is presented in relation to models of expertise developed from other analyses: an expert mental model of air traffic control, and a task decomposition listing thirteen primary controller tasks. The findings and training paridigm have implications for training other complex high-performance tasks performed in a real-time, multi-tasking environment.

Cognitive Task Analysis of Expertise in Air Traffic Control

1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 257-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Seamster ◽  
Richard E. Redding ◽  
John R. Cannon ◽  
Joan M. Ryder ◽  
Janine A. Purcell
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Task Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Cognitive Task Analysis ◽  
Air Traffic

Cognitive Task Analysis of Future Air Traffic Control Concepts: The TCAS Downlink Scenario

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Hilburn
Keyword(s):  
Situation Awareness ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Task Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Cognitive Task Analysis ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Joint Decision ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The Impact

Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is a flightdeck-based technology aimed at helping aircraft avoid proximate traffic. TCAS information has traditionally not been presented to the air traffic controller. A 2002 German midair collision was triggered, in part, by incompatible air traffic control (ATC) and TCAS clearances. Largely in response to this accident, attention has focused in recent years on the potential benefits of “downlinking” to the controller TCAS Resolution Advisories (RAs) in near real time. Such presentations, it is thought, could benefit situation awareness and joint decision making between controller and pilot. A cognitive task analysis (CTA) was recently conducted into the present-day and future RA Downlink (RAD) operational concepts. On the basis of functional task description and cognitive walkthroughs, CTA assessed the impact of various specific non-nominal events (e.g. pilot reports RA, but does not initiate an evasive maneuver). Finally, a set of cognitive elements and potential error mechanisms was identified.

scholarly journals Exploring Air Traffic Controllers' Expertise through Cognitive Task Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 42-55
Author(s):  
Chang-Sun Song ◽  
Hyuk-Jin Kwon ◽  
Kyeong-Tae Kim ◽  
Jin-Ha Kim ◽  
Dong-Sik Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Cognitive Task Analysis ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers

Cognitive Task Analysis of Air Traffic Control Instruction to Identify Rule-Based Measures of Student Simulator Performance

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-273
Author(s):  
Richard E. Redding ◽  
Thomas L. Seamster
Keyword(s):  
Student Performance ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Task Analysis ◽  
Student Evaluation ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Intelligent Tutoring System ◽  
Cognitive Task Analysis ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Simulator Training ◽  
Rule Based

This study is the first cognitive task analysis of the air traffic controller student evaluation process. The goal was to identify cognitive and behavioral rule-based measures for assessing student simulator performance. A knowledge structure analysis of experienced instructor's sorting of assessment concepts was followed by a protocol analysis of instructor's simulator training sessions with students. The data were translated into IF-THEN cognitive and/or behavioral assessment rules for use in an automated evaluation or intelligent tutoring system. Traditional summary measures of performance activate the rules, providing real-time diagnosis of student performance. This event-driven approach determines not only that some action is incorrect but also what is missing from the student's knowledge or skill base.

Stress Management and Air Traffic Control Trainees: Development and Evaluation of a New Training Course

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1155-1159
Author(s):  
Jamie D. Barrett ◽  
Brett Torrence ◽  
Michelle Bryant ◽  
Linda Pierce ◽  
Julia Buck
Keyword(s):  
Stress Management ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Medical Institute ◽  
Stress Management Training ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Aerospace Medical ◽  
And Performance

The primary mission of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is to maintain the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS). As part of this mission, the FAA is tasked with ensuring that future air traffic controllers are adequately trained to perform the high-risk job of directing air traffic. The FAA Academy curriculum for newly hired controllers involves 3-4 months of intensive lessons and performance assessments. It has been suggested that this training program is quite stressful, and successful trainees tend to be those who can better manage stress. To support ATC trainees, researchers at the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) have conducted operational research to develop and evaluate a stress management training to help trainees manage their stress during training at the FAA Academy.

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