Training-informed Air Traffic Control Workforce Scheduling

Author

Eli Winett

Date of Award

12-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Operational Sciences

First Advisor

Jesse G. Wales, PhD

Abstract

The Radar Control Facility (RCF) at Eglin Air Force Base creates monthly workforce schedules. Adherence to regulations must be verified manually and no evaluation criteria exist to compare schedules. A mixed-integer program model for air traffic controllers allocates workers across 19 positions for a user-defined number of weeks of 24-hour operations. Across eight consecutive months, this model produced schedules to nearly eliminate all shifts with critical shortages from the reference schedules. Without civilian overtime work, gains in positional coverage require a 35% increase in overtime work for military workers and 35% reduction in monthly training instances. We recommend users adopt this generalizable model.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENG-MS-24-D-011

Comments

Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

A 12-month embargo was observed for posting this thesis.

Recommended Citation

Winett, Eli, "Training-informed Air Traffic Control Workforce Scheduling" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 8196.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/8196