Which metrics provide the insight needed? A selection of remote tower evaluation metrics to support a remote tower operation concept validation

Abstract

This chapter describes the metrics for the validation of a Remote Tower Control workplace. The study shows how Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) observe traffic from a Tower Control Working Position at Airport Erfurt-Weimar in comparison to a Remote Controller Working Position. Shadow-mode trials were used to cover perceptual, operational, and human factors aspects of a Remote Tower System, including a live video panorama and a research aircraft. The aircraft was used to fly different maneuvers within the aerodrome. These maneuvers allow insights on the detectability of an aircraft within different distances from the tower and the gathering of operation information about aircraft status. In addition, a vehicle was used to position static objects on the airfield to determine the detectability of these objects for different distances to the Control Tower (RTO-camera system). Eight ATCOs from the DFS participated in the validation exercise. Time-synchronized questionnaires for the controller working position remote (CWP-remote) and the controller working position tower (CWP-tower) were applied, addressing operationally relevant questions to the ATCOs. The validation exercise targets the evaluation of metrics that could help standardize the process of testing Remote Controller Working Positions. The results consider expense of realization, comparability and feasibility as major classifications for the used metrics. Further an approach for combining the classification into one score is presented, to rank the metrics in relation to each other.