The Relationship between Aircraft Count and Controller Workload in Different En Route Workstation Systems

Abstract

Some air traffic control researchers have reported that the relationship between aircraft count in the sector and controller workload is nonlinear. Other researchers have reported it linear. However, they did not manipulate the number of aircraft separately in their experiments. In our experiment, we gradually increased traffic levels within each experimental run. Our controllers used three different workstation systems with and without data communication. The linear and power models described the relationship well. The proportion of workload variance explained by aircraft count was well above 50%. With these models, we predict controllers could handle about four (13%) more aircraft with data communication than without it with the Display System Replacement (DSR) system that is currently used at Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs).