A Simulation Study of the Effects of Communication Delay on Air Traffic Control
Abstract
This study was conducted to examine the impacts of voice communications delays characteristic of Voice Switching and ControL System (VSCS) and satellite communications systems on air traffic system performance, controLLer stress and workload, and communications disruptions. To accomplish this a simulation was developed and performed at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center. The simulation used scenarios constructed from records of live air traffic at five adjacent Atlanta Air Route Traffic ControL Center (ARTCC) sectors. Nine full performance level air traffic control specialists from the Atlanta ARTCC sectors simulated participated as subjects. Four delay levels were employed corresponding to: current equipment with and without satellite link, and VSCS with and without satellite. Three Levels of communications workload were used based on 70 percent, 90 percent, and 110 percent of reference values for the actual sectors. VSCS delays were not found to have any statistically significant impact on any measure. Satellite delays were found to be associated with a statisticaly significant increase in one kind of communication disruption (step-ons) at the highest level of communications workload used in the study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA258593
Entities
People
- E. D. Sussman
- Eric D. Nadler
- Gerard Spanier
- Peter Mengert
- Robert Disario
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration