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| Why air traffic control still needs the human touch | Why air traffic control still needs the human touch |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Zoe Kleinman Technology reporter, BBC News | By Zoe Kleinman Technology reporter, BBC News |
| With 2.2 million flights a year to look after and 200,000 square miles (518,000 sq km) of airspace under its watchful eye, there's rarely a quiet moment when you're on duty at National Air Traffic Services (Nats). | With 2.2 million flights a year to look after and 200,000 square miles (518,000 sq km) of airspace under its watchful eye, there's rarely a quiet moment when you're on duty at National Air Traffic Services (Nats). |
| In November 2011 life got a little easier for some of the organisation's 1,900 air traffic controllers when a bespoke new computer-based tool called iFACTS was introduced to the main control room at its Hampshire headquarters. | In November 2011 life got a little easier for some of the organisation's 1,900 air traffic controllers when a bespoke new computer-based tool called iFACTS was introduced to the main control room at its Hampshire headquarters. |
| Years in the making, the rigorously tested software has been designed to take some of the complex manual calculations out of air traffic control. | Years in the making, the rigorously tested software has been designed to take some of the complex manual calculations out of air traffic control. |
| "iFACTS, based on Trajectory Prediction and Medium Term Conflict Detection, provides decision-making support and helps controllers manage their routine workload, increasing the amount of traffic they can comfortably handle," trumpets the Nats website. | "iFACTS, based on Trajectory Prediction and Medium Term Conflict Detection, provides decision-making support and helps controllers manage their routine workload, increasing the amount of traffic they can comfortably handle," trumpets the Nats website. |
| What this means is that iFACTS uses data from both aircraft and Nats itself to calculate flight paths, ascent and descent details. | What this means is that iFACTS uses data from both aircraft and Nats itself to calculate flight paths, ascent and descent details. |
| It can also identify potential collisions, working around 18 minutes ahead of real time, and spot any unexpected behaviour by individual aircraft, highlighting potentially dangerous situations in the sky. | It can also identify potential collisions, working around 18 minutes ahead of real time, and spot any unexpected behaviour by individual aircraft, highlighting potentially dangerous situations in the sky. |
| It has been a big success, according to Nats. | It has been a big success, according to Nats. |
| So why is it nowhere to be seen in their most demanding operation of all? | So why is it nowhere to be seen in their most demanding operation of all? |
| In the London control room, all five of the capital's airports are under separate supervision from the rest of Nats' domain, which includes Wales, Northern Ireland and most of England. | In the London control room, all five of the capital's airports are under separate supervision from the rest of Nats' domain, which includes Wales, Northern Ireland and most of England. |
| This small area of the south east sees by far the largest concentration of air traffic, and the 18 minute window required by iFACTS is a luxury here, explained Nats General Manager Paul Haskins. | This small area of the south east sees by far the largest concentration of air traffic, and the 18 minute window required by iFACTS is a luxury here, explained Nats General Manager Paul Haskins. |
| "It would light up like a Christmas tree," he said. " It's designed to manage large airspaces." | "It would light up like a Christmas tree," he said. " It's designed to manage large airspaces." |
| "It would think every flight was on a collision course. It's not like the States - Chicago airport has nothing around it for 300 miles (482km). In the UK airports are very close." | |
| For this reason there is one key difference between the London and national air traffic control rooms - and the first clue is the noise. | For this reason there is one key difference between the London and national air traffic control rooms - and the first clue is the noise. |
| In the London area there's a constant low-level clacking noise in the background, reminiscent of the typing pools of yore. | In the London area there's a constant low-level clacking noise in the background, reminiscent of the typing pools of yore. |
| It is not the click of a computer mouse but the shift of brightly coloured plastic holders, organised in rows in front of each air traffic controller. | It is not the click of a computer mouse but the shift of brightly coloured plastic holders, organised in rows in front of each air traffic controller. |
| Each holder contains a printed strip that represents one aircraft. Details such as the pilot's call sign, speed, altitude, destination and a short-hand scribbled record of all instructions issued, are on the strips. | Each holder contains a printed strip that represents one aircraft. Details such as the pilot's call sign, speed, altitude, destination and a short-hand scribbled record of all instructions issued, are on the strips. |
| As the aircraft nears its destination or leaves the airspace, the controller manually moves the strip further down the desk until it is no longer under Nats guidance - either because it has descended below radar - 600ft (183 metres) in London - or successfully made its way into somebody else's domain. | As the aircraft nears its destination or leaves the airspace, the controller manually moves the strip further down the desk until it is no longer under Nats guidance - either because it has descended below radar - 600ft (183 metres) in London - or successfully made its way into somebody else's domain. |
| "I wouldn't say any controller is better than technology," said Mr Haskins. | "I wouldn't say any controller is better than technology," said Mr Haskins. |
| "But in the London control room the controllers can move more aircraft." | "But in the London control room the controllers can move more aircraft." |
| "Do you redesign the airspace around the technology or do you redesign the technology to fit the airspace?" | "Do you redesign the airspace around the technology or do you redesign the technology to fit the airspace?" |
| With a missed slot on a Heathrow runway costing its owner £500,000, Nats cannot afford to slow down. iFACTS may one day be able to speed up, but there is no such thing as a beta launch in this frontline sector. | With a missed slot on a Heathrow runway costing its owner £500,000, Nats cannot afford to slow down. iFACTS may one day be able to speed up, but there is no such thing as a beta launch in this frontline sector. |
| "When you implement technology in air traffic... it has to be 99.999 percent working," said Mr Haskins. | "When you implement technology in air traffic... it has to be 99.999 percent working," said Mr Haskins. |
| "It takes a lot longer to develop." | "It takes a lot longer to develop." |
| So although none of the air traffic controllers actually have eye contact with their charges - Nats HQ is about 70 miles (112km) from London, in Swanwick, Hampshire - their presence is still very much required. | So although none of the air traffic controllers actually have eye contact with their charges - Nats HQ is about 70 miles (112km) from London, in Swanwick, Hampshire - their presence is still very much required. |
| Part of that need for the human touch is psychological, admitted Mr Haskins. | Part of that need for the human touch is psychological, admitted Mr Haskins. |
| "Controllers and pilots talk to each other. I've got a piece of kit that knows what the controller is doing and the autopilot is also filing data. Couldn't they just talk to each other?" he said. | "Controllers and pilots talk to each other. I've got a piece of kit that knows what the controller is doing and the autopilot is also filing data. Couldn't they just talk to each other?" he said. |
| "Well yes - but to have an aircraft with 400 people in the air and no person looking after it just doesn't sound right. Would you want to get on board a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)?" | "Well yes - but to have an aircraft with 400 people in the air and no person looking after it just doesn't sound right. Would you want to get on board a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)?" |
| As well as wanting to know they are there, plenty of actual people want to be air traffic controllers themselves. Nats receives 1,000 applications for every 20 places on its four-year training scheme. | As well as wanting to know they are there, plenty of actual people want to be air traffic controllers themselves. Nats receives 1,000 applications for every 20 places on its four-year training scheme. |
| Candidates must pass initial psychometric tests, and successful recruits face an extra 18 months under human supervision if they wish to work on the London beat. | Candidates must pass initial psychometric tests, and successful recruits face an extra 18 months under human supervision if they wish to work on the London beat. |
| Perhaps the happiest marriage between man and machine exists among the organisation's 1,000 engineers. | Perhaps the happiest marriage between man and machine exists among the organisation's 1,000 engineers. |
| "These days they aren't the guys with the spanners," said Paul Haskins. | "These days they aren't the guys with the spanners," said Paul Haskins. |
| "They're the guys with the laptops." | "They're the guys with the laptops." |