Controller Workload Management & Human Factors Flashcards
6 cards from real CPC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Controller Workload Management & Human Factors flashcards as text
What is 'situational awareness' in air traffic control, and what is the primary threat to it?
Answer: An accurate mental model of all relevant traffic, terrain, and conditions; primary threat is cognitive overload or distraction
Situational awareness is the controller's mental model of aircraft positions, intentions, and potential conflicts; it degrades rapidly under high workload, distraction, or interruption.
What is the 'startle response' in human factors, and why is it relevant to controllers?
Answer: A predictable, automatic reaction to a sudden stimulus that can temporarily impair performance
The startle response is an involuntary physiological reaction to unexpected events that can briefly impair cognitive performance, which is relevant when unexpected alerts or emergencies arise.
What does 'task saturation' mean in ATC operations?
Answer: When the volume of tasks exceeds the controller's ability to manage them safely
Task saturation occurs when demand on a controller's cognitive and physical resources exceeds capacity, increasing the risk of errors, omissions, and loss of situational awareness.
What is the recommended action when a controller feels overwhelmed and unable to safely manage traffic?
Answer: Immediately call a supervisor and request sector assistance or a relief controller
Controllers must notify supervisors immediately when workload exceeds safe management capacity; supervisors can provide assistance, split sectors, or arrange relief.
What is 'expectation bias' and how can it cause ATC errors?
Answer: The tendency to perceive what is expected rather than what is actually present, leading to missed readback errors or incorrect position assumptions
Expectation bias causes controllers to 'hear' correct readbacks or 'see' expected aircraft positions even when deviations have occurred, leading to undetected errors.
The '3-to-1 rule' in CRM (Crew Resource Management) adapted for ATC involves:
Answer: Prioritizing the three most critical aircraft when task saturated
When task saturated, controllers are trained to prioritize the three aircraft posing the greatest immediate risk or requiring the most urgent attention to maintain safety.