Human factors issues in a future air traffic management system

Abstract

Air carriers have indicated a need for a less constrained, more flexible air traffic management (ATM) system. In response to this need, RTCA (1995) advanced proposals for a "free flight" system in which the airlines will be able to pursue their objectives more efficiently. The RTCA proposal assumes a higher level of automation to assist air traffic service providers to detect and resolve short-term tactical conflicts, reducing the need to impose strategic constraints on the airspace system, It also implies that human operator roles and responsibilities in the future system may be markedly different from those in today's air traffic management system.