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The impact of air traffic management automation on the human performance of air traffic controllers in aviation law
Advancements in communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) systems directly impact air traffic controllers (ATCs), who must interact with these technologies within a regulated framework. The hypothesis is that aligning these advancements with their governing interna...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Private Law
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613274099417088 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Hendrikse, Cindy |
| author2 | Salazar, PH-J |
| author_browse | Hendrikse, Cindy Salazar, PH-J |
| author_facet | Salazar, PH-J Hendrikse, Cindy |
| author_sort | Hendrikse, Cindy |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Advancements in communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) systems directly impact air traffic controllers (ATCs), who must interact with these technologies within a regulated framework. The hypothesis is that aligning these advancements with their governing international, regional, and national legislation and operational procedures with ATCs in mind will significantly enhance ATCs' performance and trust in these advancements and increase operational safety in a progressively technology-driven environment. Therefore, the research investigated the impact of CNS/ATM advancements on ATCs, the extent to which international, regional and national legislation consider ATCs, and whether the legislation can effectively address the rapid development and growing consequences caused by automation, including artificial intelligence. The study employed a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating a review of human factors research, an analysis of relevant international and European Union aviation law and initiatives, and a comparison of national policies and legislation of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and South Africa. Lastly, it included a qualitative survey directed at ATCs to draw from their operational expertise. The human factors literature review highlighted the growing implications of automation, including issues such as complacency, overreliance, distrust in automation, and diminishing manual skills. The legislative analyses unveiled various shortcomings at each level, while the survey revealed that ATCs follow operational procedures regardless of accuracy. Additionally, the survey showed that automation failures significantly increase ATC workload. Lastly, although no participant could indicate how artificial intelligence is currently employed in ATM, most do not trust it nor believe it would be able to control air traffic without any ATC input. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42273 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:33:31.121Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Department of Private Law |
| publisherStr | Department of Private Law |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42273 The impact of air traffic management automation on the human performance of air traffic controllers in aviation law Hendrikse, Cindy Salazar, PH-J Air law aviation law air traffic controllers (ATCs) automation artificial intelligence (AI) air traffic management CNS/ATM end-user safety management Advancements in communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) systems directly impact air traffic controllers (ATCs), who must interact with these technologies within a regulated framework. The hypothesis is that aligning these advancements with their governing international, regional, and national legislation and operational procedures with ATCs in mind will significantly enhance ATCs' performance and trust in these advancements and increase operational safety in a progressively technology-driven environment. Therefore, the research investigated the impact of CNS/ATM advancements on ATCs, the extent to which international, regional and national legislation consider ATCs, and whether the legislation can effectively address the rapid development and growing consequences caused by automation, including artificial intelligence. The study employed a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating a review of human factors research, an analysis of relevant international and European Union aviation law and initiatives, and a comparison of national policies and legislation of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and South Africa. Lastly, it included a qualitative survey directed at ATCs to draw from their operational expertise. The human factors literature review highlighted the growing implications of automation, including issues such as complacency, overreliance, distrust in automation, and diminishing manual skills. The legislative analyses unveiled various shortcomings at each level, while the survey revealed that ATCs follow operational procedures regardless of accuracy. Additionally, the survey showed that automation failures significantly increase ATC workload. Lastly, although no participant could indicate how artificial intelligence is currently employed in ATM, most do not trust it nor believe it would be able to control air traffic without any ATC input. 2025-11-19T12:50:04Z 2025-11-19T12:50:04Z 2025 2025-11-19T12:43:10Z Thesis / Dissertation Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42273 eng application/pdf Department of Private Law Faculty of Law University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Air law aviation law air traffic controllers (ATCs) automation artificial intelligence (AI) air traffic management CNS/ATM end-user safety management Hendrikse, Cindy The impact of air traffic management automation on the human performance of air traffic controllers in aviation law |
| thesis_degree_str | Doctoral |
| title | The impact of air traffic management automation on the human performance of air traffic controllers in aviation law |
| title_full | The impact of air traffic management automation on the human performance of air traffic controllers in aviation law |
| title_fullStr | The impact of air traffic management automation on the human performance of air traffic controllers in aviation law |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of air traffic management automation on the human performance of air traffic controllers in aviation law |
| title_short | The impact of air traffic management automation on the human performance of air traffic controllers in aviation law |
| title_sort | impact of air traffic management automation on the human performance of air traffic controllers in aviation law |
| topic | Air law aviation law air traffic controllers (ATCs) automation artificial intelligence (AI) air traffic management CNS/ATM end-user safety management |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42273 |
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