Date of Award

3-21-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Brent T. Langhals, PhD.

Abstract

Air traffic controllers are often required to simultaneously communicate with several aircraft over multiple radio frequencies. As a result, during peak loading, it is common for the controller to receive multiple concurrent communications, each from a different aircraft, making it difficult to discern audio messages received from multiple pilots simultaneously. To address this problem, a modified air traffic control (ATC) interface was prototyped with the goal of increasing controller-to-pilot communication efficiency. This prototype included supplementary text cueing which was provided by a hypothetical automated text to speech system in an on-screen text box for controller reference in the event of an obscured or indiscernible radio call. The prototype was then evaluated by a group of 35 participants, all with ATC experience including 12 students and 23 instructors at the Air Force controllers' school house Keesler AFB, MS. The text cueing improved controllers' comprehension of pilots' transmissions.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENV-13-M-25

DTIC Accession Number

ADA575840

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