Job Analysis for Air Traffic Control

This article presents a review and categorization of job analyses on the role of air traffic controllers (ATCO). There are three parts – how the role has been conceptualized, why it was conceptualized in this manner, and what we can conclude from developments in ATCO job analysis. The article includes a history of job analysis in air traffic control and two tables summarizing task and worker analyses. A large amount of information is available on tasks and attributes and we conclude that ATCO job analyses have been carried out in a varied and disunited manner. While there is no universally accepted analysis for the role of ATCO, previous analyses could nonetheless be used as a foundation for future analytic work.

Being in Control of Noise Levels Improves the Perception of Airplane Seat Comfort

The aviation industry is constantly making compromises when designing comfortable airplane cabins. Providing passengers with a pleasant acoustic environment without adding weight to the cabin structure is a field of tension that challenges cabin interior designers. The aim of this study was to investigate whether noise levels affect the comfort and physical discomfort experienced by airplane passengers, and whether control influences comfort perception. To this end, 30 participants experienced three conditions (silence, aircraft engine noise at 75 dB, and the same noise with the ability to use earplugs), and comfort and discomfort were measured using a questionnaire. It was concluded that aircraft engine noise negatively affected the airplane passengers’ comfort experiences. Having the ability to control this noisy environment with earplugs resulted in the lowest reported physical discomfort.

The Impact of a Legally Defined Just Culture on Voluntary Reporting of Safety Information

The aim of the present study was to examine commercial pilots’ reporting behavior and confidence in their airlines’ just culture. In pursuit of this aim, 539 European-based pilots participated in the study by answering an online questionnaire. The results are compared with an earlier study comprising Australian-based pilots. The results reveal that 84% and 57% of the European and Australian pilots, respectively, trust their airlines’ just culture. When comparing reporting behaviors, it was found that 53% of the Australian pilots and 33% of the European pilots stated they had failed to report, or had under-reported, safety information in their airlines’ safety management system. A distinct difference with the aviation regulatory backdrop that the two pilot groups operate within is the legal legitimization of just culture in European law. It is unknown whether this difference influences confidence in just culture or has an effect on reporting behavior.

An Examination of Pilot-Reported Trust and Response to Information Conflicts Experienced on the Flight Deck

The purpose of this study was to examine how pilots respond to conflicting information on the flight deck. In this study, 108 airline, corporate, and general aviation pilots completed an online questionnaire reporting weather, traffic, and navigation information conflicts experienced on the flight deck, including which information sources they trusted and acted on. Results indicated that weather information conflicts are most commonly experienced, and typically between a certified source in the panel and an uncertified electronic flight bag application. Most participants (a) trusted certified systems due to their accuracy, reliability, recency, and knowledge about the source, and (2) acted on the certified system due to trust, being trained and required to use it, and its indicating a more hazardous situation.

Why Commercial Pilots Voluntarily Report Self-Inflicted Incidents

Voluntary incident reports by commercial pilots provide essential data for airline efforts in learning from incidents (LFI). Because LFI is frequently limited by pilots not reporting incidents voluntarily, we interviewed seven commercial aviation safety experts in a focus group to derive factors influencing the voluntary reporting behavior of pilots’ self-inflicted incidents. As a result, we derived 36 factors and integrated them into a motivational framework by van den Broeck et al. (2019) . Pilots pursue various goals when voluntarily reporting incidents, such as enabling safety-related change or organizational learning. This behavior is influenced by personal antecedents, such as shame, and contextual antecedents, such as feedback. Our work expands the understanding of motivational aspects of voluntary incident reporting and discusses practical interrelations.

A Research Agenda for Implementing Augmented Reality in Ab Initio Pilot Training

Augmented reality applications have the potential to change the learning experience and outcomes for the next generation of pilots. This study aimed at identifying learning issues related to ab initio flight training and exploring the potential of augmented reality in tackling them. A survey was conducted with 43 pilots (31 men, 12 women) and seven flight instructors (six men, one woman). The results show the contents of the ab initio flight course that were most difficult to learn according to the pilots’ and instructors’ experience. In addition, the participants assessed the training conditions they experienced. After familiarization with typical use cases of augmented reality, the pilots and flight instructors indicated flight training elements that could benefit from augmented reality. The results are used to specify a research agenda for developing augmented reality applications for future ab initio pilot training.