Detection efficiency on an air traffic control monitoring task with and without computer aiding

Future levels of air traffic control automation will incorporate computer-aided features designed to alert the controller by displaying information that will identify upcoming problems and suggest solutions. Concerns have been expressed that reliance on such aids may lead to a reduced capacity by controllers to detect and respond to computer failure. The present study employed a simulated ATC monitoring task with a computer feature designed to detect possible aircraft conflicts. The ability of subjects to detect occasional failures of the computer feature in detecting problem situations was compared with detection efficiency for these same situations when no computer aiding was provided. The hypothesis that alertness would be lower and detection less efficient with computer aiding than when no aiding was employed was not supported. Applications and limitations of the findings to the problem of complacency in automated systems are discussed.