Abstract

This thesis evaluates U.S. Marine Corps Air Traffic Control (MATC) military occupational specialties (MOSs) to determine methods of reducing personnel attrition from the MATC Basic Course and revocation from operational forces. The author analyzes Marine Corps personnel data obtained from the Total Force Data Warehouse and Headquarters Marine Corps. The range of the data analyzed covers a period from fiscal years 1999 through 2008, including 965 MATC Marines. Multivariate regression models are estimated to determine the effects of AFQT score, ASVAB composite scores, demographics, and other measures of performance on the likelihood of personnel attrition and revocation. Results indicate that changing selection criteria for AFQT score or ASVAB composite scores is not warranted. It is recommended that current selection criteria be augmented with improved medical screening at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) and recruit depots, to include non-cognitive testing, such as Navy Computer Adaptive Personality Scales (NCAPS), during recruitment. It is also recommended that an economic analysis be conducted comparing the cost of personnel losses during training with the cost of losses due to revocation. http://archive.org/details/studyofpersonnel109456830 Major, United States Marine Cor

Abstract

Den här rapporten är en utredning och analys av lämpliga arbetsuppgifter och deras nödvändiga verktyg och hjälpmedel för en skiftledare, Watch Supervisor, vid ett framtida center för fjärrstyrda flygledningstorn, Remote Tower. Ett center för fjärrstyrda flygledningstorn är en centraliserad enhet med uppgiften att flygleda och kontrollera flygsäkerheten på och nära en eller flera flygplatser. Utgångspunkten för datainsamlingen har varit intervjuer med verksamma flygledare och skiftledare på LFV, Sveriges statliga verk för flygtrafiktjänst. Studiebesök har även gjorts vid olika enheter, både flygledartorn och radarkontrollcentraler, däribland Sundsvall RTC som är världens första central för fjärrstyrd flygledning godkänd att sättas i drift. Insamlad data har kompilerats och analyserats och en rekommendation presenteras i slutet av denna rapport angående arbetsuppgifter och verktyg för ovan nämnda skiftledare i ett RTC. Resultatet visar att rollen kommer ha stora likheter med befintliga skiftledarpositioner i den svenska flygledningen.

Abstract

Workload and complexity measures are, as of today, often imprecise and subjective. Currently, two commonly used workload and complexity measuring formulas are Monitor Alert Parameter and the “Bars”, both using the same measurement variables; amount of aircraft and time. This study creates formulas for quantifying ATC complexity. The study is done in an approach environment and is developed and tested on Stockholm TMA by the creation of 20 traffic scenarios. Ten air traffic controllers working in Stockholm TMA studied the complexity of the scenarios individually and ranked the scenarios in reference to each other. Five controllers evaluated scenario A1-A10. These scenarios were used as references when creating the formulas. The other half of the scenarios, B1-B10, ranked by another five controllers, was used as validation scenarios. Factors relevant to an approach environment were identified, and the data from the scenarios were extracted according to the identified factors. Moreover, a regression analysis was made with the ambition to reveal appropriate weights for each variable. At the first regression, called formula #1, some parameter values were identical. Also, some parameter weights became negative in the regression analysis. The basic requirements were not met and consequently, additional regressions were done; eventually forming formula #2. Formula #2 showed stable values and plausible parameter weights. When compared to a workload measuring model of today, formula #2 showed better performance. Despite the small amount of data samples, we were able to prove a genuine relation between three, of each other independent, variables and the traffic complexity.

Abstract

Today, many small aerodromes have a hard time surviving economically, and amongst the largest cost is air traffic control. Airlines are cutting costs where they can, and many times this affects the aerodromes as well, e.g. when airlines decide to park remotely instead of at the gate. The project called Remotely Operated Towers, initiated by SESAR and run by Saab and LFV, is aiming to address this problem. The project revolves around remotely providing ATS to aerodromes where it is deemed suitable. A big challenge in this project is how to assign aerodromes to remote tower modules in the remote control centre. There are many ways to do this, but there is only a few ways to do it to achieve the least amount of modules. This thesis aims to find an optimal solution to the challenge mentioned above. The thesis resulted in a model where the user can provide the input of choice, i.e. aerodromes with associated ATS operating hours and movements, for a specific period – and receive the assignment schedule for the modules, saying exactly which aerodrome are to be controlled by which module at what time.

Abstract

air traffic is forecasted to increase, air traffic control software subsequently needs to be more sophisticated. To efficiently push development forward, testing is important in order to determine usability. The tests need to be adapted to fit a particular purpose and carried out with methods that preserve the validity of the results. This thesis describes an implementation project carried out at the EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre, Bretigny-sur-Orge, France. The purpose of the project is to create an application that enables a user to create datasets of air traffic to be used for these tests. The application allows for manual work or bulk imports from external data sources. Furthermore it compiles scenarios as output datasets intended for prototype air traffic control software developed at Linköping University. The application design rationale and development process is described. Some time is spent on demonstrating the flexibility of the application and how its usage fits in a bigger picture.

Abstract

This project focused on the design, development, and implementation of a centralized electronic database for air-traffic-controller (ATC) training within the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps currently has individual electronic training database-management systems at the unit level. The existing training database-management systems are client based, unstandardized, and have significant data-entry redundancy. We developed a centralized system that is scalable and capable of supporting detailed training statistics. We identified several critical features required for successful implementation and developed a system capable of importing and processing existing training data. We analyzed an existing training database-management system used at the unit level and developed methods for accurately exporting the existing system's stored generic data. We processed the raw data and properly migrated the data to a prototype database-management system, which involved processing for proper data integrity, database normalization, and enforcing unique record-identifier usage. We developed a front-end graphical user interface to interact with the developed system and the stored training data. Future system improvements include migration to a military network, adaptation by additional units, and full integration with the Navy's Visual Information Display System. http://archive.org/details/databasesystemde1094555649 Captain, United States Marine Corps Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Abstract

There is an increasing interest on the various applications of the SSR Mode S (secondary surveillance radar - mode selective) for air traffic and airport traffic management. This paper discusses the applications of ICAO standard Mode S signals, in particular in the down link channel around 1090 MHz, to locate and identify cooperating targets in the airport using multilateration (MLAT) and in the terminal area/en route using wide area multilateration (WAM). Performance analyses and some comparison with the more traditional SSR system (ATC radar beacon system : ATCBRS) are carried ou

Abstract

The current development of an “European Air Traffic Management Network” is emphasizing the role of training activities for controllers. The most advanced training centers are equipped with tower, radar and flight simulators in which all the phases of air traffic control process (including the pilot’s condition) can be reproduced with an high degree of realism. Therefore, these systems mostly operate stand alone not exploiting the challenge of connecting single platforms in a unique distributed environment. In this paper a distributed training system is designed and experimented. It includes traffic simulation, flight simulation and real time voice communications. Air traffic in approach, landing and ground operations is simulated in a virtual air field and displayed on a table-top interface. One of the flight animations is performed in real time connecting the table-top with a FFS (Fixed Flight Simulator). The other planes which animate the environment follow recorded paths. Once the simulation is performed, training activities continue using an off-line virtual debriefing tool of the simulated ATC process. The whole system aims at providing the controller with the awareness about the tasks performed by pilots and their consequences on the ATC scenario development.