The job of an air traffic controller is stressful by nature. Conditions like aircraft congestion in the skies, an outdated air traffic system and understaffing at control centers can add to the daily stresses of controllers and often cause fatigue. These conditions describe the current status of Air Traffic Services (ATS) in the United States. If left unaddressed, they could compromise safety, the primary objective of air traffic control. The purpose of this thesis is to assess the regulatory framework surrounding ATS specifically in the area of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Human Factors and determine the course of action to be taken to improve safety in air traffic control. / This thesis begins with a description of what air traffic controllers do and the issues that ATS face in the U.S. It then examines the regulatory framework of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the U.S. regarding ATS, specifically SMS and Human Factors. A comparison is made between the privatized air traffic system of Canada and the government owned air traffic system of the U.S. and how privatization makes a difference economically, politically and legally when implementing standards and regulations and enforcing them. Finally, suggestions are made in order to improve the legal framework of air traffic services in the U.S.

Today, many small aerodromes have a hard time surviving economically, and amongst the largest cost is air traffic control. Airlines are cutting costs where they can, and many times this affects the aerodromes as well, e.g. when airlines decide to park remotely instead of at the gate. The project called Remotely Operated Towers, initiated by SESAR and run by Saab and LFV, is aiming to address this problem. The project revolves around remotely providing ATS to aerodromes where it is deemed suitable. A big challenge in this project is how to assign aerodromes to remote tower modules in the remote control centre. There are many ways to do this, but there is only a few ways to do it to achieve the least amount of modules. This thesis aims to find an optimal solution to the challenge mentioned above. The thesis resulted in a model where the user can provide the input of choice, i.e. aerodromes with associated ATS operating hours and movements, for a specific period – and receive the assignment schedule for the modules, saying exactly which aerodrome are to be controlled by which module at what time.

At the international level, standards and recommended practices adopted by the ICAO have settled the general framework followed by States in the provision of ATC services. However, as those international instruments have no binding effect, liability of air traffic controllers is governed by national regulations. Therefore, if in both the United States and France the liability regime is based on fault, nevertheless the nature of the fault and the one of the duties of air traffic controllers, as determined by the courts of each States, differ. This lack of uniformity is also obvious regarding the comparison between controllers' and pilots' liabilities. To mitigate the consequences of the deficiency of harmonisation, taking into account technical improvements inherent to the field of ATC and, broadly, to air navigation, two solutions have been suggested. The first one, Free flight, is still under study whereby the second one, privatisation, has already been successfully implemented in several countries and, while being strongly considered by the French government, has by now been initiated by the American one. However, we will have no option but to ascertain that such solutions will not solve the problem pertaining to disparities of regulations and holding of the courts on the matter of air traffic controllers' liability.

Idag är många branscher beroende av ett gediget teamwork. Det finns dock ett behov av objektiva mätsystem för teamwork och därför har detta projekt som syfte att skapa och testa ett observationsprotokoll utifrån den teoretiska modellen ’The Big Five of Teamwork’ framtagen av Salas, Sims & Burke (2005). Observationsprotokollet användes för att observera teamwork mellan två flygledare på Arlanda ATCC. Därefter fick flygledarna svara på en enkät för att bidra med subjektiva aspekter från modellen. Totalt genomfördes 15 stycken strukturerade observationer. Resultatet visade att det är möjligt att skatta teamwork på flygledare med hjälp av ett observationsprotokoll baserat på sex av åtta komponenter, där inte teamorientering och gemensam mental modell ingick. Komponenterna visade sig vara mer än bara ett observerbart beteende och enbart observationer frambringar inte en rättvis bild över komponenten. Resultatet visade också på att flygledarna själva upplever samtliga komponenter som en del av arbetet. Observationerna visade att samarbetet kunde se olika ut och skilja sig från team till team, och att flygledarna anpassar sig efter varandras behov. / Today, many industries are dependent on a solid teamwork. However, there is a need for objective measurement assessment for teamwork and therefore this project aims to create and test an observation protocol based on the theoretical model ’The Big Five of Teamwork’ compiled by Salas, Sims & Burke (2005). The observation protocol was used to observe teamwork between two air traffic controllers at Arlanda ATCC. After the observations the air traffic controllers answered a survey to receive subjective aspects from the model. A total of 15 structured observations were conducted. The results revealed that it’s possible to estimate teamwork on air traffic controllers using an observation protocol based on six of eight components, where team orientation and shared mental model were not included. The components appeared to be more than just an observable behavior, thus only observations does not give a fair picture of the component. The result also showed that air traffic controllers themselves perceive all components as a part of the work. The observations showed that the cooperation could look different and differ from team to team, and that air traffic controllers adapt to each other’s needs.

The aim of this study was to investigate how air traffic controllers cope with stress and also to determine whether there were statistically significant differences in the coping behaviour of air traffic control staff from different groups. The study was conducted on a sample of Air Traffic Controllers who control civilian aircraft in the South African airspace. The coping resources inventory (CRI) assessment was used to collect data and analysed to determine how controllers cope with stress and whether there are differences in the coping behaviour of air traffic control staff from different groups. The results showed that air traffic controllers use emotional coping resources to cope with stressful work situations and make less use of cognitive coping resources. The results also showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the coping behaviour of air traffic control staff from different groups. / Industrial and organisational psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Dans cette thèse, nous menons une réflexion sur les notions de norme(s) et d’usage(s) langagiers dans le cadre du domaine du contrôle aérien. Ce domaine offre l’exemple parfait de la mise en œuvre d’une norme langagière : la "phraséologie" aéronautique, le langage opératif censé permettre des communications sûres et efficaces entre pilotes et contrôleurs, lors des situations les plus courantes. Lorsque la phraséologie ne suffit pas, ces derniers ont recours à une forme langagière plus naturelle, le "plain language". De nombreux problèmes relatifs à la mise en œuvre de ce dernier ont rapidement vu le jour et ont suscité des interrogations, notamment chez les professionnels de l’enseignement de l’anglais de l’aviation. Pour répondre aux besoins spécifiques de l’ENAC, cette thèse dresse un panorama des usages faits de la langue anglaise par les contrôleurs français et les pilotes étrangers lors de leurs communications radiotéléphoniques. Notre méthode d’analyse consiste en une étude comparative entre un corpus de référence, représentant la norme, et un corpus de communications réelles, représentant les usages. Cette analyse comparative nous permet de repérer, de décrire et de catégoriser les formes langagières employées lors de situations routinières de la navigation aérienne. Certaines différences sont ainsi repérées entre les deux corpus. En fonction de la situation, les pilotes et les contrôleurs peuvent procéder à des variations d’ordre lexical, sémantique, syntaxique et discursif. Alors que certains semblent subir l’influence de la langue naturelle, d’autres semblent mettre en œuvre une stratégie communicationnelle pour tenter d’"humaniser" ou de modaliser le contenu de leurs messages. / This thesis is a reflection upon the notions of linguistic norm(s) and usage(s) within the domain of Air Traffic Control. This domain provides a prime example of an established linguistic norm: that of “phraseology”, the controlled language used between pilots and controllers to optimise and secure their most frequent communications. If pilots and controllers do not speak the same language, the phraseology used is then based on English. Whenever the limits of phraseology are reached, pilots and controllers revert to a more natural form of language which has only recently been described in this domain: plain language. However, several problems relating to the implementation of plain language and phraseology have been identified by professional Aviation English teachers. To meet the needs of the French civil aviation university (ENAC), a survey of the different uses of the English language by French controllers and international pilots is presented. The method of analysis consists in a comparative study between two corpora: one representing the prescribed norm and the other corresponding to real pilot-controller communications. This comparative analysis allows the description and categorization of the different types of languages used on the frequency in air navigation typical situations. Some differences are found between the two corpora. Depending on the situation, pilots and controllers’ messages can indeed vary from a lexical, semantic or syntactic and discursive point of view. Some variations reflect the influence of natural language on the speakers while others can be considered as a strategy to “humanise” radiotelephony communications.

Le contrôle aérien doit faire face à une forte intensification du trafic aérien. Dans cette situation, la problématique de la charge mentale chez les contrôleurs aériens est une préoccupation majeure pour maintenir le niveau de sécurité actuel. Le système d’aide automatisé ERASMUS a été élaboré afin de réduire la charge mentale chez les contrôleurs aériens. L’objectif d’ERASMUS est de compenser les effets liés à l’intensification du trafic en réduisant de manière subliminale la charge mentale associée à l’augmentation des conflits potentiels. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de proposer pour la première fois une mesure objective de l’impact du système d’aide ERASMUS sur la charge mentale des contrôleurs aériens. La réalisation de cet objectif a nécessité le développement d’une plateforme originale d’enregistrement et de traitement des mouvements oculaires non intrusive dans un environnement de simulation hautement fidèle. Les mouvements oculaires d’un groupe de contrôleurs aériens experts ont été enregistrés. En accord avec l’hypothèse d’ERASMUS, les résultats ont montré des effets de tailles moyennes à grandes sur l’amplitude des saccades, le temps moyen passé sur les aéronefs et sur la distribution de l’attention allouée à la scène visuelle. De plus, sans ERASMUS, l’augmentation de la densité du trafic a augmenté de manière significative les diamètres pupillaires. A l’opposé, quand ERASMUS est actif, l’intensification du trafic n’a pas impacté significativement les diamètres pupillaires. Nous discutons l’impact d’ERASMUS sur la charge mentale ainsi que l’utilisation des mesures oculométriques dans un environnement de simulation écologique de contrôle aérien. / Air Traffic Control has to handle the strong and constant increase in air traffic density. In this context, mental workload experienced by air traffic controllers is a key research concept to maintain the actual safety level. ERASMUS is an automated aid system designed to reduce air traffic controllers’ workload. The purpose of ERASMUS is to compensate the effects of the air traffic growth by reducing the increased mental workload associated with a greater number of potential conflicts. Prior experiments designed to validate the ERASMUS system showed a reduction in ratings of mental workload, but only subjectives measures were used. In the present thesis, the first goal is to complete these first results by providing, for the first time, a real time objective measure of controllers’ mental workload. In this purpose, we had to develop a new non-intrusive eye-tracking platform in a fully realistic simulation environment. The eye movements of seven controllers, placed in a high-fidelity simulation, were recorded. Traffic sequences were manipulated (with vs. without ERASMUS). Consistent with a reduced workload hypothesis, results showed medium to large effects of ERASMUS on the amplitude of saccades, on the time spent gazing aircraft, and on the distribution of attention over the visual scene. Moreover, without ERASMUS, growth in the traffic density significantly increased pupil diameters. In contrast, when ERASMUS was activated, traffic density growth did not impact significantly pupil diameters. Finally, we discuss the impact of ERASMUS on mental workload and the use of pupillometric measures in an ecological air traffic control environment.

In my Master´s thesis I am concerned with the questions of the human factor in air traffic control. The work is mainly focused on the air traffic controller and discusses the influences that directly or indirectly affect the air traffic controller. Considerable attention is paid to the errors that may occur during the management, their analysis and proposals for their elimination, respectively their complete disposal. The main idea is to understand the thinking of the air traffic controller as the human element in an organization and applying theories to reduce the errors in the air traffic control.

In this essay one has been investigating some of the reasons why aviation incidents take place and also examine what strategies there are to minimize the risks - primarily regarding miscommunication which often seems to be a contributing element or a direct cause in aviation mishaps. The aim of this study is to highlight and raise awareness about this field of study from a communicative point of view.The study has been performed using qualitative interviews with pilots, Air Traffic Controllers and other professionals within the aviation industry. The research has been somewhat hampered by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic but not to an extent that would have corrupted the findings.The key results have indicated that miscommunication still is a problem in the aviation industry, but less so on the local national stage than in a global perspective. Two particular occurrences that have been given extra attention are runway incursions and the use of Controller Pilot Data-Link Communications.One has established that there are technical systems available on the market to improve communication performance and that runway incursion is a problem that grows with the complexity of the airport environment. One has also been made aware of the fact that human factors can only be mitigated so far with technology. The principal question has been: How can Miscommunication in Aviation be reduced? / I denna uppsats har vi tittat på några av de bakomliggande orsakerna till att incidenter fortfarande sker inom trafikflyget samt undersökt vilka strategier som föreligger för att minimera dessa risker - primärt pga felkommunikation vilken ofta tenderar att vara en bakomliggande eller direkt utlösande faktor i flygolyckor. Syftet med denna studie är att uppmärksamma och öka medvetenheten om dessa fenomen från en kommunikativ synvinkel.Studien har genomförts medelst en kvalitativ intervjumetod med piloter, flygledare och andra initierade yrkesgrupper inom flygindustrin. Forskningen har hämmats något pga utbrottet av COVID-19 pandemin men inte i en sådan omfattning att resultatet har förvanskats.De huvudsakliga resultaten har indikerat att felkommunikation fortfarande är ett problem inom flygbranschen, men i en långt mindre omfattning på lokal nationell nivå än i ett globalt perspektiv. Två specifika företeelser som har getts extra uppmärksamhet är rullbaneintrång samt användandet av CPDLC (datalänk).Vi har konstaterat att det finns tekniska system på marknaden för att förbättra prestandan på kommunikationen samt att rullbaneintrång är ett problem som växer med flygplatsens storlek och komplexitetsgrad. Vi har också uppmärksammats på att den mänskliga faktorn endast delvis kan undanröjas med hjälp av teknologi. Den huvudsakliga fågeställningen har varit: Hur kan felkommunikation inom flyget reduceras

In my Master´s thesis I am concerned with the questions of the human factor in air traffic control. The work is mainly focused on the air traffic controller and discusses the influences that directly or indirectly affect the air traffic controller. Considerable attention is paid to the errors that may occur during the management, their analysis and proposals for their elimination, respectively their complete disposal. The main idea is to understand the thinking of the air traffic controller as the human element in an organization and applying theories to reduce the errors in the air traffic control.