The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking to improve a mathematical model that estimates the time spent by controllers performing tasks in working the air traffic in each of the more than 750 sectors of the nations en route airspace. FAA has been using the models estimates of task time expenditure, or task load, to assess the number of controllers required to work each sectors traffic. The model simulates the traffic activity experienced in each sector and then associates task times with this activity to compute task load. While the task load values do not portray the total workload on controllers since workload is driven by other factors such as stress, fatigue, and expertise they can provide a consistent and objective source of information for controller staffing. It is for this reason that an earlier TRB report urged FAA to pursue task-based modeling for workforce planning. FAA's task load model is currently being used as one of several inputs in the agency's annual controller workforce plan (CWP). The modeled task loads are used to estimate the number of controllers required in position in each sector to perform the traffic-driven tasks, which FAA refers to as positions to traffic, or PTT. When a sector is open to traffic, it has at least one controller in position, the lead controller. Depending on traffic demand and other factors, the lead controller may be accompanied by an associate controller. Thus, PTT values are usually 1 or 2. When traffic is exceptionally heavy a third controller may be added to the team, although this setup is seldom a planned staffing configuration.
Air Traffic Controller Staffing in the En Route Domain: A Review of the Federal Aviation Administration's Task Load Model
2010
86 pages
Report
No indication
English
Air Transportation , Personnel Management, Labor Relations & Manpower , Staffing , Air traffic controllers , Tasks , Traffic simulations , Task load computations , Conversion methods , Mathematical models , Time estimates , Traffic activity , Reviews , Model structures , Traffic positions , Recommendations , Task load models , En route air traffic control , Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
ACTIVITIES OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION'S AVIATION WEATHER RESEARCH PROGRAM
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000
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