Air traffic control students’ aspiration levels distributions

This paper proposes an analysis of an air traffic control students’ survey describing self-assessment of their workload levels. The workload is defined as the number of aircraft simultaneously under control. The survey is performed over the gird with axes represented with aircraft number, their correspondent, and utility/satisfaction levels. The aspiration level values are calculated using workload differences. The safety background of risks in aviation activities is described. Risk and aspiration level links are highlighted. The aspiration level notion for the proposed research is inferred. Survey details and conditions are explained. The differences in four quarters at the workload charts specified by respondents are explained. The aspiration level parameters and basic statistics calculated for respondents are presented. Appropriate goodness-of-fit tests are performed with different sets of initially received answers. Whole samples and subsamples are considered. It is shown that for the full sample considered, the outlet removal provides significant increase of p-value, thus allowing to change the hypothesis approval status. Sub-samples list includes the whole sample without outlets and the whole sample aspiration level calculated for only positive values according to y-axis. Additionally, other values were considered. Namely regret values, i.e., the values on the descending half of the charts and a mixture of regret and aspiration level values in regard that is higher. Normal and exponential distribution significances are proven for the different options mentioned above. It is shown that the general chi-squared method provides the latter mixture to be insignificantly exponential, whereas specific Fisher’s test approves the significance of the data. The role of air traffic control students’ aspiration level in their estimation and possible education strategy personalization is described. The importance of human factor consideration during similar survey performance is once again proven. The connection of regret with aspiration level in a mixture is discussed. The conclusions on the results are provided. Further research directions are proposed.