Solution-Space-based ATC support for 4DT heterogeneous aircraft-mix control

Abstract

Future Air Traffic Management concepts will require air traffic controllers to move from a tactical to a strategic way of operation. This paper evaluates two novel concepts which support controllers to perform four-dimensional trajectory management in a contingency situation. The Travel Space Representation and Time-Space Diagram are both solution-space based displays where automation calculates all possible actions in real-time. All decision-making is still to be done by the operator but is greatly facilitated by this automation, as it shows all possible actions at a glance. An experiment is described which evaluated the performance of novice controllers in managing a sector where suddenly a bad weather cell emerged, requiring them to re-route traffic in space and time. Results show that the display concepts work well and support operators even in complex situations with a heterogeneous mix of aircraft types and speeds. Performance and workload indicators become worse for the higher-density, higher-heterogeneity situations.