A comparison of detection efficiency on an air traffic control monitoring task with and without computer aiding.

Abstract

Future levels of air traffic control automation will incorporate computer-aiding features designed to alert the controller to upcoming problem situations by displaying information that will identify the situation and suggest possible solutions. Concerns have been expressed that reliance on such aids may lead to a reduced capacity to detect and respond to infrequent failures of the automation. The present study employed a simulated air traffic control monitoring task with a computer-aiding feature designed to detect possible aircraft conflict situations. The ability of subjects to identify occasional failures of the computer-aiding feature in detecting problem situations was compared to detection efficiency for these same situations when no computer aiding was provided. The hypothesis that alertness would be lower and detection less efficient with computer aiding than when no aiding was employed was not supported. Applications and limitations of the findings to the problem of complacency in automated systems are discussed.