Abstract

This paper identifies and discusses a set of criteria relevant to assess the impact of using different media in the design of user interfaces for safety-critical systems. An evaluation of different options concerning the allocation of such media during the design of an application in the Air Traffic Control domain is shown to illustrate and clarify our approach. Particular attention is paid on how different choices in allocating tasks among air traffic controllers affect usability and safety of operators' interactions. Document type: Part of book or chapter of book

Abstract

Air traffic in Europe is expected to double by 2025 according to the last forecast of EUROCONTROL, with an average growth of 2.7%-3.7% per year. On a worldwide basis, the number of passengers is expected to grow by 4.5% per year over the same timeframe. Future passenger and freight fleets will bring higher efficiency and improved environmental performance, and will allow people all around the world to benefit from the essential connections that only air transport can deliver. (European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation [EUROCONTROL], 2006) Till recently Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) communications predominantly across continental regions used narrowband Very High Frequency (VHF) voice systems along with digital data links like the VHF Digital Link (VDL) Mode 2 (ICAO, 2001) and Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) (ARINC, 2011). Such narrowband air-ground data link technologies have several limitations like the susceptibility to access collisions, lack of data prioritization mechanism at the sub-network level and also the vulnerability of jamming in narrowband communication channels. Hence, other High Frequency (HF) radio link technology like the ARINC GLOBALink (Homans, 2002) and also satellite based system like the INMARSAT SwiftBroadband systems have been used to provide voice and data communications between the aircraft and the ground control centres (EUROCONTROL, 2006). A detailed study on the various communications systems suitable for Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems was carried out by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and EUROCONTROL with the support of NASA (NASA, 2005). It highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of the various communications systems and showed that it is important for the future ATN communication systems to provide fast, high-speed and high-data rate reliable communications not only between the aircraft and ground infrastructure but also between airplanes directly. Hence it is envisaged that in order to provide the most efficient form of reliable ATM communications, different heterogeneous networks need to be adopted. It is also envisaged that future aeronautical communication systems would be able to simultaneously operate the different radio communication technologies. The different technologies will provide various advantages and provide the flexibility to the system to provide very high reliability. Hence different data i.e. Air Traffic Service (ATS), Airline Operation Centre (AOC), Airline Administrative Document type: Part of book or chapter of book

Abstract

modeling framework to evaluate the costs and benefits of implementation of Con-troller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC), and Air Traffic Management (ATM) decision support tools is proposed in this paper. The benefit/cost evaluation is carried out for four key alternatives namely alternative A: Do nothing scenario (only voice channel), alternative B: Voice channel supplemented with CPDLC, alternative C: Alternative B with ATM tools in a non-integrated scenario and finally alternative D: Alternative B with ATM tools in an integrated scenario. It is a bi-level model that cap-tures the linkages between various technologies at a lower microscopic level using a daily microscopic model (DATSIM) and transfers the measures of effectives to a higher macroscopic level. DATSIM stands for Data Link and Air Traffic Technologies SIMulation and it simulates air traffic in the enroute sector and terminal airspace for a single day and captures the measures of effectiveness at a microscopic level and feeds its output to the macroscopic annual model which then runs over the entire life cycle of the system. Airspace dwell time benefit data from the microscopic model is regressed into three dimensional benefit surfaces as a function of the equipage level of aircraft and aircraft density and embedded into the macroscopic model. The main function of the annual model is to ascertain economic viability of any deployment schedule or alternative over the entire life cycle of the system. The life cycle cost model is com-posed of four modules namely: Operational benefits module, Safety benefit module,Technology cost module and Training cost module. Analysis using the model showed that an enroute sector gets congested at aircraft den-sities greater 630 per day. This is mainly because the controller workload gets satu-rated at that traffic volume per day. Benefits realized in alternatives B, C and D as compared to alternative A increased exponentially at traffic densities greater than 630 i.e. when controller workload for alternative A becomes saturated. Master of Science