The Future Oceanic ATC Environment: Analysis of Mixed Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance Equipage

Technical capabilities for significant improvements in communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) over the oceans are currently available through the use of satellites. However, all aircraft operators will not equip simultaneously because of the high costs required. Consequently, as these CNS systems are integrated into the oceanic air transportation architecture, the controller will have to manage a mixed equipage fleet. Also, planned reductions in separation minima are based on aircraft equipage, therefore oceanic controllers will need to apply a set of mixed separation standards. The cognitive effects of the mixed equipage environment were studied through field observations and experimental analysis. The results confirm that methods are needed to minimize human performance issues with integrating mixed CNS equipage, and ensure safety and efficiency in the mixed equipage environment.