Developing ATC Automation in the Field:
It Pays to Get Your Hands Dirty

Kelly Harwood(1), Beverly D. Sanford(2), and Katharine K. Lee(1)
1. NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
2. Sterling Software, Inc., Redwood Shores, CA


Abstract

This paper describes the field assessment process that has been applied
to the development of an advanced ATC automation system, the
Center/Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) Automation System, known
as CTAS.  CTAS is installed at the Denver Center and TRACON, the Ft.
Worth Center, and the Dallas-Ft. Worth TRACON for development purposes.
The field assessment process is focused on refining the system and on
enhancing our understanding of the potential impact of the CTAS tools on
problem solving, decision making, facility coordination, and workload.
Key human factors assessments of CTAS are described.  Because of the
complexity of the ATC environment, the opportunity to assess CTAS in an
operational context has provided insights that would not have been
possible in simpler simulation environments.