Aircraft Importance and Its Relevance to Situation Awareness
Abstract
We tested en route air traffic controllers (currently serving as instructors at the FAA Academy) to determine what they remember about the aircraft in their sector. We focused on memory for flight data (especially aircraft altitude and ground speed) and the position of the aircraft on the radar screen. Aircraft importance affected memory for flight data but not the highly accurate recall of the radar position of the aircraft. We hypothesize that controllers use their excellent memory for aircraft position to classify aircraft as important (potential traffic) or not, and better remember flight data about important aircraft (in particular, their exact altitude). The results have implications for improving techniques to assess situation awareness and interfaces to support it.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA350417
Entities
People
- Carol A. Manning
- Daryl D. Ohrt
- Jennifer L. Perry
- Michael R. Dougherty
- Scott D. Gronlund
Organizations
- University of Oklahoma