Information Manager for Determining Data Presentation Preferences in Future Enroute Air Traffic Management

Abstract

One proposed vision of the future National Airspace System (NAS) involves a change in philosophy from that of air traffic control to one of air traffic management, i.e. Free Flight. In order to accommodate this philosophy change, new technologies will be implemented to assist the air traffic manager (today's air traffic controller) in decision making. When enhancing the system we must also consider the interface between the air traffic manager and this new system and its corresponding new philosophy. To better determine the design of such an interface we must first understand the information needs of the air traffic manager. The present study investigated the information requirements of 58 enroute air traffic controllers. The controllers provided their preferences in presentation frequency as well as the importance of the information to be displayed. The results reveal the potential for adaptive automation as a form of information management.

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