The Role of Workload for Work Organisation in a Remote Tower Control Center

This paper focuses on the role which workload can play for work organisation in a future remote control tower center. Nowadays you can find a control tower next to each airport. A tower is equipped with a team of controllers which maintain the declared surface movement rate under all weather conditions within the aerodrome visibility operational level (AVOL) while maintaining the required level of safety. Novel concepts for air traffic control (ATC) consider remotely controlling regional airports from a control center that includes working positions for the control of multiple airports. When evaluating such controller working positions, workload is a crucial concept. A thorough analysis of workload in a remote tower domain is used in the paper at hand to draw conclusions for the work design of a remote control center. In a simulator study at the Institute of Flight Guidance of the German Aerospace Center a remote center working environment was realized for controlling two regional airports. In a 3-factor experimental design it was investigated empirically how workload ratings differed when (1) one controller was responsible for two airports; or when two controllers were responsible for two airports with (2) each controller responsible for one airport or rather (3) working in a team responsible for both airports. Workload ratings were gathered online using the Instantaneous Self-Assessment scale and after each simulation run using the NASA-Task Load Index. In addition, expert participants judged specific traffic situations in the single operator condition for two airports in respect to its operational feasibility. The data are analysed and discussed in respect to what can be learned for work organisation and future ATC concepts. This paper, thus, contributes to better understanding the basic conditions a controller needs to meet his obligations as an air traffic controller. Such knowledge is indispensable when developing novel concepts for remote control of regional airports.