Cognitive Task Analyses of Air Traffic Management (ATM) Workforce to Inform Human Performance Modeling

Details

• Creators:
  Hall, Breanna ; Grigg, Kelly ; Estes, Steven ; Mendolia, Andrew ; Kelley, Devon ; Woods, Jeff ; Grier, Steve ; Adcock, Thomas ; Helleberg, John
• Corporate Creators:
  MITRE Corporation. Center for Advanced Aviation System Development
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Aviation Administration. NextGen Human Factors Division
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Air Route Traffic Control Centers Air Traffic Control Air Traffic Controllers Cognition GOMS Model Human Factors Task Analysis Task Flow Diagram
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Technical Report 7/18/2024 – 10/31/2025
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration
• Abstract:
  This report documents a comprehensive Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) conducted by The MITRE Corporation’s Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development (CAASD) for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Human Factors Division (ANG-C1). The primary objective was to analyze key air traffic workforce positions at Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs)—including Radar (R) and Radar Associate (RA) controllers, Operations Supervisors (OSs), Traffic Management Coordinators (TMCs), Supervisory Traffic Management Coordinators (STMCs), and Oceanic controllers—to inform operational changes, improve procedures, training, interfaces, and decision support aids. The research adopted a holistic CTA approach, spanning systems and capturing the overall operational workflow rather than focusing on system-specific tasks. Data collection involved approximately 60 hours of facility observations and guided discussions at Seattle (ZSE), Oakland (ZOA), and Miami (ZMA) ARTCCs, enabling the team to document both observable actions and underlying cognitive processes. MITRE developed multi-level CTA models using flowcharts for task flows and GOMS-based cognitive models to represent decision-making criteria, automation interaction, and communication. Key findings highlight the complex interplay of attention, vigilance, communication, and perceptual skills required across all ARTCC positions, with unique operational characteristics observed in oceanic areas and supervisory roles. The CTA results provide a baseline for discrete event task network modeling, supporting the FAA’s efforts to anticipate cognitive performance issues and improve individual and team performance. Recommendations include further research to expand efforts to the TRACON and ATCT, further validate model applicability across additional ARTCC facilities and expanding supervisor task analysis to include both operational and administrative responsibilities to inform insights beyond the scope of this effort such as those focused on overall workload experience. Next steps involve formatting task flow diagrams for integration with the Improved Performance Research Integration Tool (IMPRINT) and extending CTA research to Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) and Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) facilities.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  693KA8-22-C-00001
• Collection(s):
  Federal Aviation Administration
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e2b6339a5337d5a23bd3a950ebb52616ec7692c1506dc11a4b845fbb40f6173721ee71d265043b4b2952a5a8ca993534f615fd4fdfba33a16e5d7c7428301a6e
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/88352/dot_88352_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.53 MB ]