Relationship of Complexity Factor Ratings With Operational Errors

This study is an examination of the extent to which objective static sector characteristics and controller ratings of static and dynamic sector complexity factors contributed to the occurrence of operational errors (OEs) at the Indianapolis air route traffic control center (ZID). A multiple regression model of the relationship between a combination of static sector characteristics (sector altitude strata and sector size) resulted in a modest prediction of the variance in OE incidence (R = .70, R² = .49). Sector size was negatively related to OEs, indicating that smaller sectors were associated with more OEs. Sector strata were positively related to OEs, indicating that higher altitude sectors were associated with more OEs. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of the complexity ratings produced four components with eigenvalues >1.00, accounting for 62% of the variance in the data. Components were used as predictors in a multiple regression analysis of the number of OEs in the ZID sectors. Only Component 1 (climbing and descending aircraft in the vicinity of major airports) and Component 2 (services provided to non-towered airports) contributed significantly to the total proportion of variance explained by the model (R = .78, R² = .61). Component 2 shared an inverse relationship with the number of OEs, indicating that the complexity related to providing services to non-towered airports is associated with fewer OEs. These results will be used to guide the choice of objective measures for further analysis of the influence of static and dynamic sector characteristics in the occurrence of OEs.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA467731
• 
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/58443
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Work was accomplished under approved task AM-BHRR-522.
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, P.O. Box 25082
  Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73125

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Office of Aerospace Medicine, 800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Pfleiderer, Elaine M
  • Manning, Carol A
  • Goldman, Scott M
• Publication Date: 2007-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Aircraft; Airports; Eigenvalues; Regression analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Complexity; Dynamic sector characteristics; Operational errors; Principal components analysis; Static sector characteristics
• Geographic Terms: Indianapolis (Indiana)
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01053608
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FAA/AM-07/11
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 18 2007 3:36PM