The Management of Verbal Communications in Complex Aeronautical Systems

This study addresses the question of human factors in verbal communications in AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System). It aims to improve selection, training and learning by developing a tool focused on attentional division and multiple communications management. Radio communications management seems to be highly dependent on crew expertise. Indeed, many instructors say that several years of experience on AWACS are required in order to develop communications management skills and to improve their intelligibility. On the basis of our preliminary observations, we propose three hypotheses which would account for this expertise effect, focused on automatisms, volumes management of radio networks and attentional division. In the first hypothesis we assume that experts would benefit from more attentional resources for communications management compared to beginners because experts automate technical tasks. A laboratory experiment was designed for testing this hypothesis. Our goal is to improve technical training for operators in communications management