Supervising Multiple Remote Tower Operations: How to Develop and Test a New Work Position in the ATC Domain?

摘要

Since single remote tower operations are already reality, further research concentrates on the provision of Air Traffic Services (ATS) to multiple airports in parallel by a single Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO). The multiple remote tower center (MRTC) concept addresses how air traffic service is provided and also the uncertainties that influence the ATCO's ability to provide ATS. The next essential research step is a flexible and optimal allocation in between of several multiple remote tower modules (MRTM). The MRTC foresees the position of a supervisor that supports the active MRTM. For the design of the supervisor workplace a user-centered design approach was selected. This workplace and its procedures still have to be defined. This paper focuses on the initial steps to identify the workplace environment and the necessary procedures. Three workshops with 5 system matter experts were conducted and the results are presented. These results are used to design a validation set-up that could help to identify the overall benefit of the MRTC supervisor position. In summary the paper shows the initial steps in the human centered design approach applied to a developing workplace to handle a new task in the ATC domain.