scholarly journals Air traffic control activity increases attention capacity in air traffic controllers

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valdenilson Ribeiro Ribas ◽  
Hugo André de Lima Martins ◽  
Gutemberg Guerra Amorim ◽  
Renata de Melo Guerra Ribas ◽  
Cláudia Ângela Vilela de Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Activity ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Serial Addition ◽  
The Individual ◽  
High Level

Abstract Air traffic controllers simultaneously develop complex and multiple tasks in the course of their activities. In this context, concern is raised over the high level of attention needed by these professionals which can ultimately be affected by stress and fatigue. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess attention level in air traffic controllers (ATCo). Methods: 45 flight protection professionals were evaluated, comprising 30 ATCo, subdivided into ATCo with ten or more years in the profession (ATCo³10, n=15) and ATCo with less than ten years in the profession (ATCo <10, n=15) and 15 aeronautical information services operators (AIS), subdivided into AIS with ten years or more in the profession (AIS³10, n=8) and AIS with less than ten years in the profession (AIS <10, n=7), who were included as the control group. The digit symbol, d2 (the individual marks the letter d on a specific form containing 14 lines with 47 letters in each, maintaining focus on letter d followed by two dashes), forward digit span, backward digit span and PASAT (paced auditory serial addition test) attention tests were used. Kruskal-Wallis was used and data expressed as Median (Minimum and Maximum) with p<0.05. Results: The ATCo³10 presented greater focus of attention, sustained attention, mental manipulation and resistance to interference capacity compared to the AIS³10. Comparison of ATCo³10 to the AIS<10 showed they presented only greater resistance to interference, and when compared to the ATCo<10 presented lower focus. Conclusions: The air traffic control activity after ten years may be associated with a high level of attention.

Quantitative indicators of air traffic controllers’ attitude to the danger of errors

2020 ◽  
pp. 68-78
Author(s):  
O. M. Reva ◽  
V. V. Kamyshin ◽  
S. P. Borsuk ◽  
V. A. Shulhin ◽  
A. V. Nevynitsyn
Keyword(s):  
Human Factor ◽  
Differential Method ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Professional Activity ◽  
Aviation Accidents ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Level Of Significance ◽  
The Individual ◽  
High Level

The negative and persistent impact of the human factor on the statistics of aviation accidents and serious incidents makes proactive studies of the attitude of “front line” aviation operators (air traffic controllers, flight crewmembers) to dangerous actions or professional conditions as a key component of the current paradigm of ICAO safety concept. This “attitude” is determined through the indicators of the influence of the human factor on decision-making, which also include the systems of preferences of air traffic controllers on the indicators and characteristics of professional activity, illustrating both the individual perception of potential risks and dangers, and the peculiarities of generalized group thinking that have developed in a particular society. Preference systems are an ordered (ranked) series of n = 21 errors: from the most dangerous to the least dangerous and characterize only the danger preference of one error over another. The degree of this preference is determined only by the difference in the ranks of the errors and does not answer the question of how much time one error is more dangerous in relation to another. The differential method for identifying the comparative danger of errors, as well as the multistep technology for identifying and filtering out marginal opinions were applied. From the initial sample of m = 37 professional air traffic controllers, two subgroups mB=20 and mG=7 people were identified with statisti-cally significant at a high level of significance within the group consistency of opinions a = 1%. Nonpara-metric optimization of the corresponding group preference systems resulted in Kemeny’s medians, in which the related (middle) ranks were missing. Based on these medians, weighted coefficients of error hazards were determined by the mathematical prioritization method. It is substantiated that with the ac-cepted accuracy of calculations, the results obtained at the second iteration of this method are more ac-ceptable. The values of the error hazard coefficients, together with their ranks established in the preference systems, allow a more complete quantitative and qualitative analysis of the attitude of both individual air traffic controllers and their professional groups to hazardous actions or conditions.

scholarly journals Visual Search and Conflict Mitigation Strategies Used by Expert en Route Air Traffic Controllers

Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Ricardo Palma Fraga ◽  
Ziho Kang ◽  
Jerry M. Crutchfield ◽  
Saptarshi Mandal
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Search Patterns ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Conflict Mitigation

The role of the en route air traffic control specialist (ATCS) is vital to maintaining safety and efficiency within the National Airspace System (NAS). ATCSs must vigilantly scan the airspace under their control and adjacent airspaces using an En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) radar display. The intent of this research is to provide an understanding of the expert controller visual search and aircraft conflict mitigation strategies that could be used as scaffolding methods during ATCS training. Interviews and experiments were conducted to elicit visual scanning and conflict mitigation strategies from the retired controllers who were employed as air traffic control instructors. The interview results were characterized and classified using various heuristics. In particular, representative visual scanpaths were identified, which accord with the interview results of the visual search strategies. The highlights of our findings include: (1) participants used systematic search patterns, such as circular, spiral, linear or quadrant-based, to extract operation-relevant information; (2) participants applied an information hierarchy when aircraft information was cognitively processed (altitude -> direction -> speed); (3) altitude or direction changes were generally preferred over speed changes when imminent potential conflicts were mitigated. Potential applications exist in the implementation of the findings into the training curriculum of candidates.

Real-Time Assessment of Operator State in Air Traffic Controllers Using Ocular Metrics

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-261
Author(s):  
Jonny Kuo ◽  
Michael G. Lenné ◽  
Rama Myers ◽  
Anna Collard-Scruby ◽  
Courtney Jaeger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Pupil Diameter ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Continuous Operator ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
State Monitoring ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Operator Fatigue

This study examined the utility of continuous operator state monitoring in predicting air traffic control officer (ATCO) workload and fatigue. Participants (N=8) were observed in live operational air traffic control environments for 60-minute periods. ATCO state was assessed using a real-time, computer vision-based system which tracked operator gaze and pupil diameter. Workload and fatigue were also assessed via the adapted Bedford Workload Scale and Samn-Perelli Fatigue Scale, respectively. Standard deviation of gaze was a significant predictor of both max and mean workload, showing a strong negative relationship with both subjective measures. Pupil diameter showed a significant positive relationship with operator fatigue. Our findings demonstrate the utility of continuous ocular metrics of workload and fatigue in operational environments.

Effects of Performance Strategies on the Air Traffic Control Simulation Test

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (21) ◽  
pp. 1092-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Seamster ◽  
Richard E. Redding ◽  
Dana L. Broach
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Simulation Test ◽  
Training Strategy ◽  
Key Aspects

A key component of the FAA's selection battery for air traffic controller trainees is the air traffic simulation test (ATST), developed as a job sample and simulation of air traffic control tasks. This study determined whether candidates taking the ATST could be taught strategies to help them achieve superior test performance. In this study, 51 participants completed a two day strategy training and testing session. The experimental group received explicit strategy training, and the control group received equivalent practice but with no strategy training. Strategy training improved key aspects of ATST performance. Training on simple strategies allowing automatic information processing was successful at improving some key aspects of ATST performance, while training on more complex strategies requiring controlled processing did not improve performance. Implications for future research and for short-term strategy training for technical tasks is discussed.

Assessing a Retention Policy for Air Traffic Controllers

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 777-781
Author(s):  
Linda G. Pierce ◽  
Elaine M. Pfleiderer
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Air Traffic Controller ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Retention Policy ◽  
High Level ◽  
Expensive Process ◽  
New Facility

Training a developmental (air traffic controller in training) to certification is a lengthy and expensive process. To limit losses due to poor performance in training, the FAA has implemented a policy to reassign some developmentals to less complex air traffic control (ATC) facilities following voluntary or involuntary removal from training at more complex facilities. The National Employee Service Team (NEST) is implementing the policy. We reviewed the NEST processes and assessed effectiveness based on the extent to which the NEST recommendations are accepted and the likelihood that developmentals reassigned in accordance with NEST recommendations succeed in training at the new facility. We found that NEST recommendations to retain or terminate developmentals and type and level facility for reassignment are accepted by the FAA at a high level. Furthermore, the success rate of developmentals at a new facility is greater than 90%.

Automated Radar Video Map Production at NOS

1989 ◽  
pp. 5-10
Author(s):  
Ronald Bolton ◽  
Russell Hoover
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Automated Production ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Manual Methods ◽  
Traffic Control System ◽  
And Control

The Aeronautical Charting Division (ACD), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) produces the Radar Video Maps (RVM's) used by air traffic controllers to monitor and control the Nation's airspace. These complex maps depict the local Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airspace definition and show airways, intersections, holding patterns, selected navigational aids, special-use airspace boundaries, and other radar display elements critical to the traffic controller's radar scope displays. Previously produced by tedious manual methods, the ACD's Aeronautical Chart Automated Production (ACAP) system now provides the tools for automated production of this integral part of the FAA air traffic control system.

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