The Effects of Conditional Clearances on Altitude Deviations

The complexity of communication between pilots and air traffic controllers will increase with the implementation of new traffic management capabilities that depend on Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC). Here, the authors examine the relationship between conditional clearances (defined as messages that include a condition on when an action is to be started or completed) and altitude deviations. The purpose of this analysis is to identify causal and contributing factors to the pilot errors observed and recommend error mitigation strategies. To understand the relationship between conditional clearances and altitude deviations, the authors analyzed 1) reports submitted to the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), 2) CPDLC communications in United States (US) oceanic airspace from 2014-2017, and 3) recent Large Height Deviations in North Atlantic airspace and altitude deviations reported in the New York Oceanic Control Area. The results further the authors' understanding of human factors issues that contribute to pilot error with complex clearances, and can be used to facilitate the development of procedures and training to ensure effective and efficient human system integration in NextGen capabilities.

• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/41000
• Corporate Authors:

  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Lennertz, Tracy
  • 0000-0001-6497-7003
  • Cardosi, Kim
  • Yost, Alan
• Publication Date: 2019-6-26

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 44p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Altitude; Aviation; Clearances (Navigation); Data communications; Human factors; Network links
• Identifier Terms: Aviation Safety Reporting System
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01711152
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-VNTSC-FAA-19-04
• Contract Numbers: 51FB70
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 17 2019 11:37AM