Automation and Systems Issues in Air Traffic Control

In recent years, increases in the amount and changes in the distribution of air traffic have been very dramatic and are continuing. The need for changes in the current air traffic systems is equally clear. While automation is generally accepted as a method of improving system safety and performance, high levels of automation in complex human-machine systems can have a negative effect on total system performance and have been identified as contributing factors in many accidents and failures. Those responsible for designing the advanced air traffic control systems to be implemented throughout the alliance during the next decade need to be aware of recent progress concerning the most effective application of automation and artificial intelligence in human-computer systems. This volume gives the proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute held in Maratea, Italy, June 18-29, 1990, at which these issues were discussed.

The Impact of Automation on Air Traffic Control Systems.- Assumptions and Automation in Air Traffic Systems.- Perspectives on Air Traffic Control Automation.- Computerization and Automation: Upgrading the American Air Traffic Control System.- The Canadian Automated Air Traffic System (CAATS): An Overview.- The Implementation and Impact of Automatic Data Processing on UK Military ATC Operations.- From Under the Headset: The Role of the Air Traffic Controllers’ Professional Association in Present and Future Air Traffic Control Systems Development.- A Collation of Approaches to Systems.- Air Traffic Control and Systems Issues.- ICAO and Future Air Navigation Systems.- Social, Political, and Regulatory Issues Concerning Harmonization of Interacting Air Traffic Control Systems in Western Europe.- Aircraft Traffic Forecast and Communications Requirements in the Year 2000.- Automation in Environmental Engineering.- The Role of Automation and Control Systems in Water Resources Engineering.- Automated Aids and Their Evaluation.- Intelligent Dialogue in Air Traffic Control Systems.- Close Ground/Air Cooperation in Dynamic Air Traffic Management.- Multi-layer Queuing Model to Check Automated Air Traffic Control Systems.- Application of Planning Aids for Air Traffic Control: Design Principles, Solutions, Results.- Artificial Intelligence and Human Factors in ATC: Current Activity at Eurocontrol Experimental Centre.- Meeting the ATC Challenge through Simulation.- Human Attributes, Representatives, and Requirements in Relation to Automation.- The Aims of Human Factors and Their Application to Issues in Automation and Air Traffic Control.- Human Factors in System Design.- Automated Systems: The Human Factor.- Modelling Control Tasks in Complex Systems.- Mental Models in Air TrafficControl.- The Controller in Human Engineering.- Acceptance of New Systems by Air Traffic Controllers.- Effects of the System on the Human: Stress and Workload.- Stress and Workload Management in Air Traffic Control.- Shiftwork and Circadian Variations of Vigilance and Performance.- Operator Workload as a Limiting Factor in Complex Systems.- Attention, Workload, and Automation.- Approaches to Error and Failure.- ICAO and Civil/Military Coordination.- Error Models for Operating Irregularities: Implications for Automation.- Cognitive Failures in Military Air Traffic Control.- Human Factors in ATC Communication.- Results of a Perceptual Study on Human Error in Computer Systems Based on Bailey’s Research.- Organizational and Cultural Aspects of Air Traffic Control Automation.- Automation, Information, and Consciousness in Air Traffic Control.- Issues in Cultural Ergonomics.- Air Traffic Controller Working Conditions and Organization: Suggestions for Analysis and Improvements from a Psychological Point of View.- Automation as an Influence on Controller Selection.- Selecting for Air Traffic Control: The State of the Art.- Selection of Air Traffic Controllers for Automated Systems: Applications from Today’s Research.- Automation Issues for the Selection of Controllers.- Automation in ATC: How Does It Affect the Selection of Controllers?.- Consequences of Automation for Training and Resource Management.- Training Requirements for Automated ATC.- Adaptive Training to Accommodate Automation in the Air Traffic Control System.- Resource Management Training for Air Traffic Controllers.- Non-Technical Training for Technocrats: Resource Management at Canadian Airlines.- Critical Issues for Decision Makers in Providing Operator and Maintainer Training for Advanced Air TrafficControl Systems.- Speculations on Automation and Air Traffic Control.- A Modest Proposal for Future Systems.- The Blue Sky Challenge: A Personal View.- Automation and Systems Issues in Air Traffic Control: Blue Sky Concepts.- What If... We Integrated Both Training and Monitoring Functions into Air Traffic Control Workstations?.- Some Final Thoughts.- Closing Remarks.- Anyone at Home?.- Participants.- Photographs of Air Traffic Control Facilities.- Index and Glossary.