Modeling the effects of new automation capabilities on air traffic control operations: Approved for public release; Distribution unlimited. Case number 17-2692

When developing new automation capabilities, analysts must consider how those capabilities affect the air traffic controller's tasks. At the request of the FAA, MITRE examined how a future set of automation enhancements for the TRACON domain will impact air traffic controller workflow, task times, and mental effort. The MITRE team assessed these operational impacts to the controller through task modeling with a tool called Cogulator. We modeled tasks representing operations with today's tools (as-is) and use of the TRACON automation enhancements (to-be). Our modeling results show how a controller's workflow changes when the controller chooses to use the TRACON automation enhancements. These workflow changes include electronic communication in place of voice communication, as well as earlier notification of separation and spacing conflicts. Our results also demonstrate other impacts of using the automation enhancements: shorter task times associated with each capability and mental effort levels that decrease or stay the same.