A model of air traffic control sector capacity based on air traffic controller workload

This paper presents an analytical model for determining the ultimate capacity of an Air Traffic Control (ATC) sector. This capacity is expressed by the maximum number of aircraft that can be served in the sector in a given period of time under given conditions. These conditions are defined by the constant demand for service, the given traffic scenario in the sector and the air traffic control equipment used for management of air traffic in the sector. The model is based on the quantification of the radar air traffic controller workload generated by monitoring of the radar display and executing the control tasks over the aircraft (traffic) passing through the sector. The radar controller is assumed to apply an “internal mental model” during the monitoring and execution of the control tasks.

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