HUMAN FACTORS Issues in Free Flight
Although the advent of Free Flight assumes certain enabling technologies (e.g., ADS-B capability, airborne traffic displays, and advanced ground-based conflict probes), Free Flight would represent as much an operational, as a technological, evolution. Under Free Flight, the roles of both the ATCo and pilot would be drastically changed. It is for that reason that attention is being focused on the role of the human components of the air traffic system, both in the air (pilots) and on the ground (ATC). Some of the major human factors issues surrounding Free Flight include the following:
- How can command authority be dynamically and unambiguously transferred between air and ground?
- How can joint evasive manoeuvres be communicated and negotiated?
- What information will air and ground exchange? Will they withhold any information?
- Must the two sides share intent information? If so, how far in advance?
- What are the workload implications of information uncertainty?
- What happens when equipment fails? Can controllers serve as backups to automated conflict probe / resolution functions?
- Will underloading /overloading present problems (e.g., in terminal areas)?
- Will memory demands or situation awareness decrements present problems?
- What are the best ways to structure computer assistance? What are the best ways to design displays and algorithms, so as to facilitate information sharing between air and ground?
- Are there behavioural bases for defining intervention strategies, airspace structures, resolution time horizons, etc?
- How can issues of liability and responsibility be resolved?
- How should Traffic Flow Management (TFM) handle potential "gaming"of arrival intent information?
- Will pilots / controllers accept the concept of Free Flight?
- How should we select and train appropriate operators?
To understand how profoundly the change to Free Flight could influence controller workload and monitoring, consider the following simple diagrams, that depict the principles of Controlled and Free Flight in the en route phase. Under controlled flight, there are a limited number of areas at which conflicts are likely to occur. Indeed, the historical reasons behind the current-day fixed route structure have to do more with human limitations than with technical or procedural concerns! Under Free Flight, on the other hand, assuring separation of the same number of aircraft now seems a daunting task for the air traffic controller.
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