Evaluating the Attitudes and Trust of Sri Lankan Air Traffic Controllers towards Accepting Automation in terms of Electronic Flight Strips

Abstract

The adoption of Electronic Flight Strips (EFS) is a global trend aimed at streamlining the routine tasks for Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs), yet Sri Lanka continues to use traditional paper-based systems. This study investigates the potential acceptance of EFS automation by Sri Lankan ATCs, examining factors such as perceived useful-ness, perceived ease of use, trust, and attitude toward automation within the Tech-nology Acceptance Model framework. Data from 48 Sri Lankan ATCs revealed that all factors were positively correlated with automation acceptance, with perceived ease of use emerging as the most influential construct. A classification by work unit showed Approach Controllers perceived EFS as having lower usefulness compared to Tower and Area Controllers, likely due to their unique workflow. Additionally, ATCs with prior automation experience have demonstrated stronger positive at-titudes, trust, and willingness to adopt EFS, emphasizing the role of experience in fostering automation acceptance. Furthermore, age and gender showed no signif-icant impact on acceptance levels. These findings provide critical insights for EFS system designers and management to tailor training and implementation strate-gies, highlighting the importance of designing intuitive interfaces, building trust in safety, and leveraging experienced ATCs to champion adoption.