Established on Required Navigation Performance (EoR) (RNP): Human Factors Implementation Guidance for Air Traffic Control Facilities within the National Airspace System [Phase II Final Report]

Federal Aviation Administration2019PDFTech ReportThomas, LaurenSerrato, AliciaEvans IncorporatedArchitecture Technology CorporationUnited States. Federal Aviation Administration. NextGen Human Factors Division (ANG-C1)United States. Federal Aviation Administration. Human Factors DivisionUnited StatesHuman factorsAir traffic controlNavigation processesNavigation systemsTrajectory controlEstablished on Required Navigation Performance (EoR) (RNP)Required Navigation Performance: Authorization Required (RNP-AR)proceduresPerformance Based Navigation (PBN)trajectory-based operations (TBO), automationDTFAWA-15-D-00026Phase II Final ReportThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) NextGen Human Factors Division commissioned this research to identify and share lessons learned from air traffic control facilities that were \u201cearly adopters\u201d of Established on Required Navigation Performance (EoR) (RNP) procedures. Based on a review of relevant concept validation documentation and research literature and 38 interviews with personnel at Seattle and Denver Terminal Radar Control (TRACON) facilities, a suite of guidance materials was developed to support air traffic control facilities with EoR implementation. The materials included: a) a pair of hybrid process charts/checklists covering the Plan & Design and Implement/Sustain stages of an EoR implementation, b) an Air Traffic Control facility communication toolkit to support EoR implementation, and c) an Air Traffic Controller\u2019s EoR Journey Map describing some typical air traffic controller responses to the introduction of EoR. In developing these materials, consideration was given to a set of design principles informed by user-centered design and design thinking approaches, as well as by change management considerations. These materials were validated during a third site visit to Houston Terminal Radar Control facility, where twenty interviews were conducted with operational personnel, including Certified Professional Controllers. As well as providing feedback and suggested revisions to these materials, the site visit also allowed the researchers to collate human factors data on an EoR implementation within a dual and triple runway configuration. The results from Phase II of this work include a suite of materials that air traffic control facilities can adapt to support their own EoR implementation projects, as well as additional insights into how best to support controllers through transitions and changes associated with the introduction of new technology, new procedures, and increased automation.99