Workstation Design for ATC Systems

Abstract

Developing a workstation for the next generation Air Traffic Control system (AAS) represents a significant design challenge. Not only are a large number of potentially conflicting requirements identified for this workstation, but several unique features of those requirements exacerbate the potential problems. For example, a large (20 × 20 inch) CRT is the primary visual display. This must move to both an inline and wraparound console configuration. The system must accommodate a large range of user sizes and be acceptable to approximately 16,000 air traffic controllers. A team of controllers has participated in the iterative design effort through reviews, demonstrations and hands-on evaluation. The key feature of all design activities is the narrowing of alternatives as the design approaches production release. This paper addresses this process and suggests how this process may be managed to ensure a satisfactory outcome.