En Route Terminal Atc Air Traffic Control Operations Concept

En Route/Terminal ATC (Air Traffic Control) Operations Concept

This document captures in one place the information processing tasks of the en route and terminal controller. This will serve to aid the engineer and designer to the future Advanced Automation System (AAS) with some insight into the why, what and how of current Air Traffic Control operations. The AAS will see the integration and consolidation of terminal and en route processes into what is termed the Area Control Facility (ACF). This document takes an operational view of the current systems and presents data on how the controller does his perceptual, cognitive and motor functions. The analysis approach is to treat the controller as a human information processor who interacts with a variety of ATC systems to perform the tasks of expediting, separating, and controlling air traffic. Specific methods and techniques are employed to rigorously identify and characterize these functions, or 'information processing/handling tasks' From this one can infer, study, analyze and eventually develop in the AAS the capabilities for aiding and improving controller productivity. In addition, this document preserves, for the purposes of transition to the ACF, the design information that is applicable to the activities on a controller. These are the set of activities and information processing tasks performed at the Radar Positions in terminal approach control and en route centers. The focus of this document is on the composition and analysis of controller tasks, and not on the machine functions described in NAS Stage A3d2 and ARTS II, III Technical documentation.

FAA Air Traffic Control Operations Concepts

Integrated Plan for Air Traffic Management Research and Technology Development