The role of flight progress strips in en route air traffic control: a time-series analysis

Paper flight progress strips (FPSs) are currently used in the United States en route air traffic control system to document flight information. Impending automation will replace these paper strips with electronic flight data entries. In this observational study, control actions, communication events, and computer interactions were recorded and analysed using time-series regression models. Regression models were developed to predict FPS activities (writing, manipulating, looking) at different levels of traffic complexity, for individuals and teams of air traffic controllers. Results indicated that writing was well predicted by a common, simple time-series equation. The ability to predict FPS manipulations was modest, but prediction of looking at FPSs was poor. Overall, these data indicate that (1) flight strip activities were similar for individuals and for the data-side controllers in the team (whose primary responsibility is the strips), and (2) flight strip activity for teams was predictable from the radar-side controller's actions but not the data-side controller's actions.