STRESS IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS: EFFECTS OF ARTS-III

Physiological, biochemical, and psychological assessments of stress in air traffic controllers were made at Los Angeles (LAX) and Oakland (OAK) Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities before and after installation of Automated Radar Terminal Systems-III (ARTS-III). Heart rates of controllers on duty or at rest scarcely changed from before to after ARTS-III installation. Total stress increased at both TRACONs, and the increase was entirely due to elevated catecholamine excretion. Steroid excretion was significantly reduced at both facilities after ARTS-III installation. Scores on the A-State scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory indicated that introduction of ARTS-III had no appreciable effect on work-related anxiety levels of controllers. The post-ARTS-III A-State means for both facilities were not significantly elevated. A-Trait was unchanged at LAX but decreased significantly at OAK. Assessments of A-State showed significant work-related increments but tended to be low.

• Corporate Authors:

  Civil Aeromedical Institute

  6500 South MacArthur Boulevard
  Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73128
• Authors:
  • Melton, C E
  • Smith, R C
  • McKenzie, J M
  • Hoffman, S M
  • Saldivar, J T
• Publication Date: 1976-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 16 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic controllers; Anxiety; Automated radar terminal system; Automation; Heart rate; Physiological stress; Psychological stress; Urine
• Uncontrolled Terms: Catecholamines
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00150456
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FAA-AM-76-13
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 15 1977 12:00AM