A Method for Calculating Air Traffic Controller Communication Complexity

Verbal communication is currently the primary tool Air Traffic Controllers (ATCos) use to manage traffic and ensure separation [1]. For these verbal communications to be effective they need to be clear, concise, and use proper phraseology. Under increased workload, however, ATCos may issue multiple commands in one transmission. Pilots commonly cite message complexity and length as a potential source of frustration and error [2]. The current study discusses an algorithm for calculating communication complexity values. This algorithm is applied to a simulated environment involving different speeds and numbers of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), examining the communications between the ATCos and the surrounding conventional aircraft. The findings suggest that the computer program for calculating communication complexity is a helpful tool for examining ATCo-pilot communications and can be used in future studies to analyze communications in dynamic environments.