ATC CTA: Cognitive task analysis of future air traffic control concepts

Abstract

Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is a flight deck tool to display and help avoid proximate air traffic. Until now, TCAS information has not been presented to the air traffic controller. Attention has focused in recent years on the potential benefits of "downlinking" to the air traffic controller TCAS Resolution Advisories (RAs) in near real time, Such presentations, it is thought, could benefit situation awareness and joint decision making between controller and pilot. A cognitive task analysis (CTA) was recently conducted into the present-day and future RA Downlink (RAD) operational concepts. The aim was to identify the cognitive elements underlying performance in the RAD scenarios, and to hopefully identify potential error mechanisms. On the basis of a functional task description and cognitive walkthroughs, CTA proceeded to decompose the tasks imposed on the controller. The impact of various specific non-nominal events (e.g. pilot reports RA, but does not initiate an evasive maneuver) was investigated. Finally, a set of cognitive elements and potential error mechanisms was identified. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.