Air Traffic Control Threats to Pilots through Line Operations Safety Audits

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the air traffic control (ATC) threats that cause airline pilots to commit errors during normal operations by identifying the prevalence of ATC threats to reduce ATC communication errors for safe flights. This study deals with ATC communication threats effect on the human performance of pilots through LOSA (line operations safety audit) implemented by Airlines. Methods: This study deals with ATC communication threats effect on the human performance of pilots through LOSA implemented by two domestic Airlines. Results: The prevalence of ATC threats shows that there are 60% of flights with at least one ATC-related threat. The frequent ATC threats have been identified as difficulties in understanding controller accents, changes of the runway, errors by ATC controllers, difficult clearance of altitude change and multiple clearances in one call. The most prevailing ATC threats occurred during the Descend, Approach & Land phase of the flight. Conclusion: In order to prevent accidents related with ATC and improve threats and human errors in the actual environment of pilots, it is necessary to identify and analyze the actual threats and errors in the cockpit regarding ATC. It is required to improve the management of ATC threats proactively. According to LOSA result, ATC threats are a frequent threat to pilots, and the most frequent type of ATC for pilots is difficult Accent or language to understand controller. These findings could be trained in the simulators and cockpit in a similar environment and workload as in actual flight for effective countermeasures.

Keywords

• line operations safety audit
• threat and error management
• air traffic control threats
• crew resource management
• safety management system