| dc.description.abstract | Air traffic service providers are increasingly
embracing electronic alternatives to the traditional
paper Flight Progress Strip (FPS). However, most
development of such electronic systems, and of
Decision Support Tools (DSTs) in general, has
centered on radar-based en route or terminal-area
facilities, rather than the airport air traffic control
tower. Based on an analysis of the unique human
factors requirements of the control tower
environment, a prototype Portable Electronic FPS
has been designed that also serves as an interface to
a DST for departure operations. The Portable
Electronic FPS has been implemented using a
system of networked, handheld computers as
prototype hardware.
A study has been conducted to evaluate the
usability of the Portable Electronic FPS. The study
consisted of a human-in-the-loop experiment that
simulated the tasks an air traffic controller performs
at a major airport. Three issues were explored: the
importance of FPS portability, the appropriateness
of departure sequence DST advisories distributed
onto each Portable Electronic FPS, and the
advantages of interaction mechanisms enabled by
an electronic interface. Test subjects used multiple
versions of the Portable Electronic FPS as well as a
current-day paper FPS. Quantitative measures of
departure sequencing efficiency and traffic
monitoring ability were recorded for each test
subject, as well as subjective FPS preference
rankings.
This paper reviews the final design and
prototype implementation of the Portable Electronic
FPS, presents the design and results of the usability
study, and suggests future research that should be
pursued in order to create an operationally
deployable Portable Electronic FPS system. | en |
