En Route Data Communications: Experimental Human Factors Evaluation

Data Communication (Data Comm) is one of the key enablers required for the implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Plan. NextGen addresses increasing air traffic levels and complexity for 2015 and beyond (Joint Planning and Development Office, 2007). This report presents the experimental evaluation of Data Comm between en route controllers and pilots as an alternative to voice communication. The authors conducted the evaluation using an augmented emulation of the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) system. In 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started to replace the current Display System Replacement and Host Computer System with ERAM. The authors recorded and analyzed system, controller performance, and controller self-report data. They also recorded and analyzed controllers’ eye movements and oxygenation levels of the prefrontal cortex using functional near infrared technology. The results showed that the most useful Data Comm interface was the Human-Machine Interface that combined keyboard, template, and graphical capabilities. An increase in the proportion of the aircraft that were Data Comm capable reduced the frequency of voice communications and lowered controller workload. Data communication failure of individual aircraft did not affect controller performance, but partial or full system failure increased the number of voice communications and workload. For the aircraft that did not have an integrated Flight Management System (FMS), controllers did not opt to use voice communications more often than using Data Comm, but integrated FMS reduced their workload. The analysis did not find a difference between first-come, first-served and best-equipped, best-served policies. On the basis of these results, recommendations are presented for the NextGen Data Comm.