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Making the choice to split sectors or not in a complex Air Traffic Control environment

Bie, Carsten LU (2021) FLMU16 20192
Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
Abstract
Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) are essential sharp-end workers in the increasingly complex Air
Traffic Management (ATM) system that the European ATM network has become. This research is
based on an event that occurs many times daily in the Copenhagen Area Control Center (ACC).
ATCOs choose whether or not to split sectors. To cope with workload, which is constituted by
variation in traffic volume and complexity, the controller must make the choice to split sectors or not.
It is not an easy choice, often judged retrospectively. Most splits turn out well, however a positive
outcome does not necessarily indicate a good decision and vice versa.
This study uses a qualitative research strategy to investigate what competencies ATCOs... (More)
Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) are essential sharp-end workers in the increasingly complex Air
Traffic Management (ATM) system that the European ATM network has become. This research is
based on an event that occurs many times daily in the Copenhagen Area Control Center (ACC).
ATCOs choose whether or not to split sectors. To cope with workload, which is constituted by
variation in traffic volume and complexity, the controller must make the choice to split sectors or not.
It is not an easy choice, often judged retrospectively. Most splits turn out well, however a positive
outcome does not necessarily indicate a good decision and vice versa.
This study uses a qualitative research strategy to investigate what competencies ATCOs possess to
manage this task, and why controllers sometimes choose not to split sectors in the presence of high
traffic volumes. Interviews with ATCOs from Copenhagen ACC, Supervisors and managers combined
with storytelling, form the results that show how the professional identity of being an ATCO and
belonging to a small group of professionals can relate to sector splits. Student controllers during their
education, must show that they possess the ability to call a split of sectors at the right time, in order to
show overall competence and thereby get included in the professional group of controllers. This is a
difficult task to achieve considering how experienced controllers themselves struggle to make the
choice to split sectors or not. In addition, the different views on sector splits and their effect on safety
are discussed.
The results indicate a strong dependence on what role you possess in the organisation:
Controller - Supervisor or Manager.
For the ATC system to work it needs to be resilient to the daily variations in traffic demands. The
resilience depends upon flexibility from controllers to make the choice to split sectors or not.
Sometimes the flexibility means and relies upon the controllers ability to work beyond the sector
capacity. The extra capacity created by controllers is appreciated by supervisors and management
because it gets the work done. Most controllers enjoy to work in busy traffic and are proud to
contribute and create the extra adaptive capacity when needed - by extending the operational envelope
buffers. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bie, Carsten LU
supervisor
organization
course
FLMU16 20192
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Air Traffic Control, decision making, storytelling, tribal knowledge, professional identity, resilience, FLMU06
language
English
id
9063915
date added to LUP
2021-08-30 08:49:50
date last changed
2021-08-30 08:49:50
@misc{9063915,
  abstract     = {{Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) are essential sharp-end workers in the increasingly complex Air
Traffic Management (ATM) system that the European ATM network has become. This research is
based on an event that occurs many times daily in the Copenhagen Area Control Center (ACC).
ATCOs choose whether or not to split sectors. To cope with workload, which is constituted by
variation in traffic volume and complexity, the controller must make the choice to split sectors or not.
It is not an easy choice, often judged retrospectively. Most splits turn out well, however a positive
outcome does not necessarily indicate a good decision and vice versa.
This study uses a qualitative research strategy to investigate what competencies ATCOs possess to
manage this task, and why controllers sometimes choose not to split sectors in the presence of high
traffic volumes. Interviews with ATCOs from Copenhagen ACC, Supervisors and managers combined
with storytelling, form the results that show how the professional identity of being an ATCO and
belonging to a small group of professionals can relate to sector splits. Student controllers during their
education, must show that they possess the ability to call a split of sectors at the right time, in order to
show overall competence and thereby get included in the professional group of controllers. This is a
difficult task to achieve considering how experienced controllers themselves struggle to make the
choice to split sectors or not. In addition, the different views on sector splits and their effect on safety
are discussed.
The results indicate a strong dependence on what role you possess in the organisation:
Controller - Supervisor or Manager.
For the ATC system to work it needs to be resilient to the daily variations in traffic demands. The
resilience depends upon flexibility from controllers to make the choice to split sectors or not.
Sometimes the flexibility means and relies upon the controllers ability to work beyond the sector
capacity. The extra capacity created by controllers is appreciated by supervisors and management
because it gets the work done. Most controllers enjoy to work in busy traffic and are proud to
contribute and create the extra adaptive capacity when needed - by extending the operational envelope
buffers.}},
  author       = {{Bie, Carsten}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Making the choice to split sectors or not in a complex Air Traffic Control environment}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}