Social Effects on Real-Time ATC Simulation

Abstract

Large-scale Real-Time simulations are accepted as the preferred method for the validation of Air Traffic Control systems. They are generally accepted as valid representations of the ‘real world’. Controllers participating in such simulations are considered to be both objective evaluators and representative participants. A study by a social anthropologist suggests that the success or failure of a simulation may depend on social factors unknown to, or ignored by, simulation staff, illustrating this from experience of two contrasting simulations.