An Analysis of TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) Controller-Pilot Voice Communication

Details

• Creators:
  Cardosi, K. M. ; Brett, B. ; Han, S.
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Corporate Contributors:
  Science Applications International Corporation ; EG & G Dynatrend
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Air pilots
  • Errors
  • Performance measurement
  • Human factors
  • Voice communication
  • Air traffic controllers
  • Controller-pilot communications
  • TRACON
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-VNTSC-FAA-96-7 ; DOT/FAA/AR-96/66
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration
• Abstract:
  The purpose of this analysis was to examine pilot-controller communication practices in the TRACONI (Terminal Radar Approach ; Control) environment. Forty-eight hours of communications recorded on the voice tapes from eight TRACONs were analyzed. ; There were 13,089 controller-to-pilot transmissions examined in this study. This included 9,409 clearances (e.g., assignment of ; altitude; instructions to change heading, speed, or radio frequencies; instructions for arrival, etc.) And 3,680 requests for ; information, salutations, etc. ; The complexity of the controller's message (i.e.. the number of pieces of information) was examined and the number of erroneous ; readbacks were analyzed as a function of message complexity. Pilot acknowledgments were also analyzed; the numbers of full ; and partial readbacks, and acknowledgments only (i.e., "rogei") were tallied. Pilot reports of altitude information was also ; examined. ; Fewer than one percent of the messages resulted in communications errors. Among the error factors examined were: complexity ; of the message, type of acknowledgment, use of call sign in the acknowledgment, type of information in error, and whether or not ; the controller responded to the readback error. Instances in which the controller contacted the aircraft with one call sign and the ; pilot acknowledged the transmission with another call sign were also examined. The report concludes with recommendations to ; further reduce the probability of communication errors.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  FA6L1/A6112
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/8711/dot_8711_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.00 MB]
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:716a740845895d4488d330d39ca95b40209e3d63eb1049faf5699fd5f6d1d6eaddd4a8831532cb32ca02df92c47c5073e16c93826da8942475788a12557953f8