Situation Awareness, Automation & Free Flight

Free flight represents a major change in the way that aircraft may be handled in the U.S. National Airspace System. It has the potential of significantly increasing airspace utilization and thus improving aircraft throughput. The degree to which these objectives can be met, however, without compromising aircraft safety, depends on establishing appropriate changes in the air traffic control system. These changes may include significant incorporation of new air traffic management and cockpit technologies. Studies that examine the affect of automation on situation awareness will be reviewed. These studies indicate that while certain forms of automation may be advantageous, other types of automation may induce losses in situation awareness that can lead out out−of−the−loop performance errors. A recent study was also conducted that examined changes in the locus of control between ATC and the cockpit using existing technology. This study provides an objective evaluation of the effects of free flight on controllers’ ability to maintain an accurate and complete picture of the traffic situation in order to provide needed monitoring and separation functions. The study revealed that aspects of free flight can significantly hinder the situation awareness and performance of controllers. The results of this study provide information for better defining how free flight should be implemented and for determining needed design and procedural modifications to support the concept.