Details:

Creators:
Hadley, Jerry ; Sollenberger, Randy ; D’Arcy, Jean-Francois ; Philip Bassett
Hadley, Jerry ; Sollenberger, Randy ; D’Arcy, Jean-Francois ; Philip Bassett Less -
Corporate Creators:
William J. Hughes Technical Center (U.S.)
Corporate Contributors:
United States. Federal Aviation Administration. Human Factors Research and Engineering Division
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Aeronautics Air Traffic Air Traffic Control Air Traffic Controllers Flight Simulators Simulation Methods
Publication/ Report Number:
DOT/FAA/CT-TN00/06
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
United States
Corporate Publisher:
William J. Hughes Technical Center (U.S.)
Abstract:
The objective of the study was to examine the impact of inter-facility dynamic resectorization on Air Traffic Control Specialists’

(ATCSs’) performance, workload, communication, situational awareness, and control strategies. As a preliminary investigation, the

scope of the study was limited to lateral boundary adjustments (in contrast to vertical adjustments) and specific traffic situations that

should benefit the most from dynamic resectorization. The researchers selected a heavy traffic situation and shifting weather patterns

as scenarios for this investigation. The approach was to pre-define regions of airspace that could be allocated to one Air Route Traffic

Control Center (ARTCC) or the other depending upon the traffic situation. This approach represented a simple method of dynamic

resectorization that could be implemented using current air traffic control (ATC) equipment. Twelve full performance level controllers

participated in the study over a 6-week period. We evaluated their performance using objective and subjective measures. We assessed

controller workload using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index and the Air Traffic Workload Input

Technique. We measured ATCSs’ situation awareness using self-ratings on a numeric scale. In addition, controllers completed

questionnaires after each scenario and at the end of the study. The results indicated that dynamic resectorization did not interfere with

ATCS performance. Overall, there were very few separation losses in the study. However, the results indicated slightly fewer

separation losses for dynamic resectorization in the heavy traffic scenarios, although this trend was not statistically reliable. Finally,

the results indicated slightly lower NASA-TLX workload ratings in dynamic resectorization scenarios. However, dynamic

resectorization did not reduce controller situation awareness. In fact, controller ratings of situation awareness were higher when

operating dynamic resectorization scenarios in both high density traffic and shifting weather situations.


Format:
PDF
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:6c0d3eeeea5e3cf9484807b9094fa1db38bc44bcc5792049410c21760a0eaf82
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/16676/dot_16676_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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