Automation and Aids: GPS Outage En-Route Simulation

Abstract

This study was an initial examination of controllers' ability to manage Global Positioning System outage situations caused by intentional/unintentional radio frequency interference. Twenty-seven certified professional air traffic controllers staffed their on-the-job sectors that were emulated on a high fidelity platform. Three navigational system outage conditions were simulated: no outage, partial outage, and full outage. Three operational environments were also simulated: a current environment, a future avionics equipage environment, and a future avionics equipage environment with ground based navigation aid reductions. The research team collected coordination, task effectiveness measures, and real-time subjective workload ratings. Results indicated the controllers had significant increases in workload and coordination activities due to outages; however, no differences in task effectiveness measures emerged. The overall conclusion made in this study is that although there was a significant effect of outage on workload, controllers were generally able to compensate for the increase. The operational environment was inconsequential.