Interference Timing and Acknowledgement Response with Voice and Datalink Atc Commands

Abstract

Datalink is a text system used to send messages between ATC and pilots. There are concerns related to changes in information processing demands and responses associated with executing speech and text ATC commands. The timing of interference and the acknowledgement response on command execution performance were examined during the processing of simulated ATC commands. Verbal and central executive (CE) interference tasks were presented before or after the acknowledgement. Participants received both speech and text commands, responded by a verbal or manual acknowledgement, and set the controls in a flight simulator. Results demonstrated an advantage for a manual acknowledgement with longer messages. CE as opposed to verbal interference prior to an acknowledgement had a greater negative effect that was exacerbated in the text condition. The findings are interpreted within the context of a working memory and multiple-resource perspective and implications are discussed with regard to communication processes in aviation.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

ASRS. (2003). ASRS Database Report Set: Pilot/Controller Communications (No. 9.0). Washington, DC: FAA/NASA.

Baddeley

Chincotta

Adlam

(2001). Working memory and the control of action: Evidence from task switching. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 130, 641–657.

Dunbar

McGann

Mackintosh

Lozito

(2001). Re-examination of mixed media communication: The impact of voice, data link, and mixed air traffic control environments on the flight deck (No. NASA/TM-2001-210919). Moffet Field, CA: NASA Ames Research Center.

Kerns

(1991). Data-link communication between controllers and pilots: A review and synthesis of the simulation literature. International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 1, 181–204.

Lozito

McGann

Corker

(1993). Data link air traffic control and flight deck environments: Experiment in flight crew performance. Paper presented at the Seventh International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, Columbus, OH.

Navarro

Sikorski

(1999). Datalink communication in flight deck operations: A synthesis of recent studies. International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 9, 361–376.

Risser

M. R.

McNamara

D. S.

Baldwin

C. L.

Scerbo

M. W.

Barshi

(2002). Interference effects on the recall of words heard and read: Considerations for ATC communication. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 46th Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, 392–396.

Risser

M. R.

Scerbo

M. W.

Baldwin

C. L.

McNamara

D. S.

(2003). ATC commands executed in speech and text formats: Effects of task interference. Proceedings of the 12th Biennial International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, Dayton, OH, 999–1004.

Risser

M. R.

Scerbo

M. W.

Baldwin

C. L.

McNamara

D. S.

(2004). Implementing voice and datalink commands under task interference during simulated flight. In Vincenzi

Mouloua

Hancock

(Eds.), Human Performance, Situation Awareness and Automation Technology Conference (HPSAA II) (Vol. I, pp. 201–206). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

10.

Scerbo

M. W.

Risser

M. R.

Baldwin

C. L.

McNamara

D. S.

(2003). Task interference and message length on implementing speech and simulated data link commands. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 47th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, 95–99.

11.

Schneider

V. I.

Healy

A. F.

Barshi

(2000). Effects of repeating back instructions on accuracy in following them. Paper presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society, New Orleans, LA.

12.

Wickens

C. D.

(1984). Processing resources in attention. In Parasuraman

Davies

(Eds.), Varieties of Attention (pp. 63–101). New York: Academic Press.