Competent, not Necessarily Confident: Insights from a Simulator Study on ATCO Readiness on Non-Endorsed Sectors

Abstract

Conventionally, air traffic controllers (ATCOs) in upper airspace control centers must undergo sector-specific endorsement to operate them. This implies high training costs and limiting operational flexibility during staff shortages. Given the strict selection and education process, as well as operator experience, ATCOs may be capable of safely handling non-endorsed sectors with similar characteristics. Additionally, they could benefit from further training and competency expansion. To investigate this, an experience-based allocation tool was developed by the German Aerospace Center and tested at Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC). The study evaluated ATCOs’ mental stress as well as self-assessments of mental workload, situation awareness, performance of air traffic management (ATM) flow, and job satisfaction. 17 executive ATCOs participated in a human-in-the-loop simulation at MUAC, completing reference run on endorsed sectors and test runs on both non-endorsed sector predicted ‘able’ or ‘not able’ by the experience-based allocation tool. Traffic scenarios varying in intensity included nominal and non-nominal conditions and covered adverse weather conditions, military activities, and emergencies. Although expected differences were found between endorsed sectors and non-endorsed sectors, human factors indicators remain within the predefined acceptable operational limits. One of the identified challenges for successful future implementation represents the observed competence-confidence gap, as ATCOs expressed concerns about the new endorsement method.