Head up only — A design concept to enable multiple remote tower operations

Multiple remote tower operations are one concept for more cost efficient air traffic control at smaller airports. One air traffic controller (ATCO) should control traffic at two or more airports at the same time. Multiple remote tower operations for two small airports has already been successfully been validated by LFV, the Swedish air navigation service provider. As monitoring and visual observation is an important task of tower controllers, this concept raises questions on how to best support human performance when it should be applied in high traffic environments. A high fidelity study with 16 ATCOs investigated into the influence of multiple remote operations on visual attention and monitoring performance. The study was set up with high traffic volumes putting a maximum workload on the ATCO for a whole simulation run. Empirical results of eye movement measures are presented. Whilst in general visual attention distribution was not affected, less relevant events were monitored, because the visual attention was distributed over the two airports. In order to mitigate these effects, two workplace design approaches are presented - information integration and attention guidance. Advantages and challenges of the two approaches are discussed, with a focus on the impact of the design concepts on the working methods of air traffic controllers.