Traffic Flow Management (TFM) Tools

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Document Number:
DOT/FAA/TC-19/36
Publication Date:
09-2019
Authors: Brion Woroch, Ph.D.
Carolina Zingale, PhD.

Woroch, B. & Zingale, C. (2019). Traffic Flow Management (TFM) Tools: Guidance for Use, Integration, and Training: Part Task Experiment 2. DOT/FAA/TC-19/36. Atlantic City International Airport, NJ: Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center.

Abstract

Objective:

We conducted the Phase II part-task experiment to evaluate the effects of different training methods on the effectiveness of Decision Support Tools (DSTs). The Phase I part-task experiment involved a training method that utilized both a slideshow and an interactive learning component. In Phase II, the participants only viewed the information in the training slideshow and did not interact with the information in the same way as the participants in Phase I. We evaluated whether interactive training resulted in better task performance than a more passive form of training.

Method:

Eight volunteers from the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center with no experience with Traffic Flow Management tools and procedures served as participants. We collected data from this group of participants using the same methods we used in Phase I. We compared the performance of participants between Phase I and Phase II on an aircraft rerouting task and two secondary tasks.

Results:

We did not find evidence that the interactive training method improved task performance. However, we did find that interactive training led to increased performance on the initial practice scenario of the task.

Conclusion:

This benefit may have implications for real-world training. If the first impression of a new tool is positive, it may lead to increased adoption and future use. However, if the first impression of a new tool is negative, or if the tool is difficult to learn, users may abandon it or use it less often .

Applications:

We recommend that training materials, 1) allow the user to set the pace for learning, and 2) provide the user specific feedback about performance and demonstrate the potential benefits of new tools and procedures.