Real-Time Use of Paper in Air Traffic Control Towers: Criticality and Benefits

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how and why flight progress strips are currently used in air traffic control towers in the United States. The 3 main staffing positions in the tower, flight-data/clearance delivery (FD/CD), ground control (GC), and local control (LC), were observed by subject-matter experts at 10 control towers. Frequency of occurrence, importance ratings, and type of paper used were recorded. In addition, perceived benefits of marks made on the paper were assessed using open item responses and a series of Likert-scale questions. The positions varied in the marks the controllers made and in their reasons for making the marks. FD/CD controllers tended to make marks because they reduced workload or aided communication. LC tended to make marks because they aided memory, organization, and situation awareness. GC proved to be an interesting hybrid of the FD/CD and LC.