Skip to main content
Consensus Study Report
Flight to the Future: Human Factors in Air Traffic Control

VIEW LARGER COVER

Flight to the Future

Human Factors in Air Traffic Control (1997)

Despite the strong safety record of the national airspace system, serious disruptions occasionally occur, often as a result of outdated or failed equipment. Under these circumstances, safety relies on the skills of the controllers and pilots and on reducing the number of aircraft in the air. The current and growing pressures to increase the capacity to handle a greater number of flights has led to a call for faster and more powerful equipment and for equipment that can take over some of the tasks now being performed by humans. Increasing the role of automation in air traffic control may provide a more efficient system, but will human controllers be able to effectively take over when problems occur? This comprehensive volume provides a baseline of knowledge about the capabilities and limitations of humans relative to the variety of functions performed in air traffic control. It focuses on balancing safety with the expeditious flow of air traffic, identifying lessons from past air accidents. The book discusses:

  • The function of the national airspace system and the procedures for hiring, training, and evaluating controllers.
  • Decisionmaking, memory, alertness, vigilance, sleep patterns during shift work, communication, and other factors in controllers' performance.
  • Research on automation and human factors in air traffic control and incorporation of findings into the system.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration's management of the air traffic control system and its dual mandate to promote safety and the development of air commerce.

This book also offers recommendations for evaluation the human role in automated air traffic control systems and for managing the introduction of automation into current facilities and operations. It will be of interest to anyone concerned about air safety—policymakers, regulators, air traffic managers and controllers, airline officials, and passenger advocates.

Suggested Citation

National Research Council. 1997. Flight to the Future: Human Factors in Air Traffic Control. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/5493.

Import this citation to:

Publication Info

384 pages |  6 x 9 | 

ISBNs: 
  • Paperback:  978-0-309-09004-9
  • Hardcover:  978-0-309-05637-3
  • Ebook:  978-0-309-17502-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/5493

Copyright Information

The National Academies Press (NAP) has partnered with Copyright Clearance Center's Marketplace service to offer you a variety of options for reusing NAP content. Through Marketplace, you may request permission to reprint NAP content in another publication, course pack, secure website, or other media. Marketplace allows you to instantly obtain permission, pay related fees, and print a license directly from the NAP website. The complete terms and conditions of your reuse license can be found in the license agreement that will be made available to you during the online order process. To request permission through Marketplace you are required to create an account by filling out a simple online form. The following list describes license reuses offered by the NAP through Marketplace:

  • Republish text, tables, figures, or images in print
  • Post on a secure Intranet/Extranet website
  • Use in a PowerPoint Presentation
  • Distribute via CD-ROM
  • Photocopy

Click here to obtain permission for the above reuses. If you have questions or comments concerning the Marketplace service, please contact:

Marketplace Support
International +1.978.646.2600
US Toll Free +1.855.239.3415
E-mail: support@copyright.com
marketplace.copyright.com

To request permission to distribute a PDF, please contact our Customer Service Department at customer_service@nap.edu.

loading iconLoading stats for Flight to the Future: Human Factors in Air Traffic Control...