Extending air traffic control tasks to control air taxis and to warn of critical wildlife: an impact analysis

Abstract

AbstractDespite large and successful efforts to keep wildlife off airports, many collisions between aircraft and animals still happen at low altitudes outside the airport boundaries, where wildlife is most abundant. These wildlife strikes are especially threatening for aircraft departing from airports as well as for envisioned low-flying urban air mobility aircraft. The here presented study evaluates the operational feasibility of a concept to provide tower air traffic controllers with wildlife strike risk information to contribute in a reduction of these critical strikes. For this purpose, real-time human-in-the-loop simulations with ten air traffic controllers were performed in a 360° tower simulator. Based on controller feedback as well as measures for safety and efficiency, the findings indicate feasibility of providing controllers with wildlife strike risk information. It is expected that the refinement of the procedures presented here will pave the way towards field-tests and eventually actual implementation of air traffic control involvement in wildlife strike prevention.