Concept development and evaluation of airborne traffic displays

Abstract

A system concept for a cockpit traffic situation display (TSD) was developed and a preliminary evaluation was undertaken to investigate the effect of a TSD on safety, efficiency, and capacity in the 3rd generation NAS/ARTS ATC system environment. The optimum display configuration, examples of procedural changes, benefits to the pilot and benefits to ATC are discussed. The test program was conducted in three phases: 1. Basic tracking tests 2. ATC procedural tests 3. Spacing tests using position command data Both quantitative and qualitative measures were used for determining safety, pilot and controller workload, and task performance. A comparison was made between operations conducted with and without a TSD. Results of the test program were quite promising. Pilot response to the TSD as a safety device was strongly favorable. In tasks which involved limited pilot participation in the ATC control process, improvements in spacing accuracy and a decrease in communications at satisfactory pilot workload levels were demonstrated. Initial results indicate that additional research to fully explore the potential of TSD's should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.