Simulated Task Environment for HCI Analysis of NextGen Data Comm

This paper describes a simulated task environment (STE) created to study the impact of using data versus voice communication in the National Airspace System (NAS). Currently, all communications between air traffic controllers and the aircraft they control are by voice. The vision for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is for all communications to be handled through data communications (Data Comm). The transition to data communications is expected to produce a number of benefits, including a reduction in voice frequency congestion, a reduction in the number of errors made in the transmission process, and a reduction in delays, leading to enhanced sector productivity and capacity. For these benefits to be realized, though, it is critical to analyze and understand the ways in which pilots interact with the system and the ways in which the changes in communication style affect a pilot’s awareness of their environment. Thus, additional research is needed and, for that to happen, an environment in which these systems can be evaluated is needed. We developed an STE to meet those needs. The STE integrates five different software tools including a low-fidelity flight simulator into a desktop computer. This is a cost-effective environment that can be used to perform studies to analyze human computer interaction behavior