WORKLOAD ASSESSMENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE OPTIMIZATION OF DATA LINK CONTROLLER

THE MODE S DATA LINK UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY THE FAA IS AN ESSENTIAL UPGRADE TO THE EXISTING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) SYSTEM. IN ORDER TO INSURE THE IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF ATC SERVICES MEDIATED BY THIS DATA LINK, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO ASSESS ITS EFFECTS ON THE WORKLOAD AND PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS. CONSEQUENTLY, IN PHASE I, NTI INCORPORATED WILL DEVELOP THE METHODOLOGICAL TOOLS REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL WORKLOADPROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MODE S FUNCTIONS AND TO EMPIRICALLYVERIFY AND AMELIORATE THOSE PROBLEMS DURING THE PHASED INTRODUCTION OF THE SYSTEM. SPECIFICALLY, NTI WILL (1) DEVISE AND APPLY AN ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUE TO COMPARE CONTROLLER WORKLOAD UNDER CURRENT ATC SERVICE DELIVERY PROCEDURES WITH THAT ANTICIPATED FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MODE S DATA LINK; (2) DESIGN AN EMPIRICAL TEST SCENARIO WITHIN WHICH IDENTIFIED WORKLOAD PROBLEMS CAN BE VERIFIED AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES CAN BE TESTED; AND (3) DEVELOP A GROUP OF WORKLOAD METRICS MATCHED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THETEST SCENARIO.