Pilot and Controller Participants - ATC Survey Study

[SamanthaUW]

Update March 14, 2014

Hi All,

Thanks for those of you who participated in the study and completed the survey! It's you that made all this possible. Today I am glad to report that the study is closed and part of the data was analyzed. We had some really interesting findings, and I would like to share them with you. Here is the link to the tech report we wrote based on the findings:

https://uwaterloo.ca/humans-complex-systems-lab/publications/survey-air-traffic-controller-and-pilots-experience-unmanned

If you are interested in learning more about the non-cooperative object project, a longer version of the tech report and my thesis would give you a good overview and detailed information. They could be found here:

https://uwaterloo.ca/humans-complex-systems-lab/publications/distributing-non-cooperative-object-information-next

http://hdl.handle.net/10012/8157

Again, thank you very much for supporting our research!

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] .

Best,

Xiaochen

------------------------------------
All,

I am a master's student at University of Waterloo in Canada. I am right now seeking pilots and air traffic controllers to participate in a 30-minute online survey. The following recruitment letter provides more details about the study.

The appearance of the post has been clear by Rob in PPRuNe Towers. And we will provide the results for anyone who asks and/or contacts the researcher when it is completed.

Thanks for your interest!

Xiaochen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Systems Design Engineering University of Waterloo

PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR INVESTIGATION OF INTEGRATION OF NON-COOPERATIVE UAS INTO CONTROLLED AIRSPACE

We are looking for volunteers to take part in an online survey study examining pilots and controllers perspectives on the information about non-cooperative objects (i.e. birds, unmanned aircraft systems, weather, etc.) that should be gathered by radar surveillance systems. The results will be used as a foundation to provide mitigation strategies for current radar surveillance systems on how the non-cooperative objects, especially unmanned aircraft, should be displayed. This project is conducted under the supervision of Professor Jonathan Histon.

In order to participate in the study, you are expected to have professional working/training experience as a pilot/air traffic controller. In the survey, you would be asked to answer questions about your experience with non-cooperative unmanned aircraft, your preference of information level of detail regarding the display of unmanned aircraft, and potential factors that would affect your communication with the pilots/controllers.

The survey takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, which can be finished whenever and wherever at your convenience, as long as you have the access to the internet. Please be noted that no login and passwords are required, therefore the survey has to be completed at one sitting. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. Although no monetary remuneration will be given, your commitment is greatly appreciated.

To volunteer for this study, please click: Registration (http://edu.surveygizmo.com/s3/1118696/Registration)

For more information about the study, please contact:
Xiaochen Yuan
Systems Design Engineering
at
[email protected]

This study has been reviewed by, and received ethics clearance through,
the Office of Research Ethics, University of Waterloo.

[SamanthaUW]

Just to clarify that you do not need previous experience with UAV/UAS to participate in the study. As long as you have professional experience as an air traffic controller and/or pilot, we welcome your participation and interest! :)

[Ian W]

The assumption that UAS are 'non-cooperating' will need justification in your study. In most cases these aircraft have transponders, carry ADS-B Out and can have 2-way R/T with air traffic control and other aircraft. In many ways they are more 'cooperative' than a VFR GA aircraft that need not have radio nor any transponder system.

I presume by non-cooperating you mean that the aircraft cannot 'see and avoid'. This is not necessarily true and extensive research is being carried out into 'sense and avoid' which in some cases can track more than 100 'targets' even through cloud which is well in excess of the capability of the pilot of the VFR GA aircraft example above.

It is also important not to suffer from (for want of a better description ) 'Predator Fixation' as the number of types of UAS are extreme. They can range from small hand launched quadri-copters through mid-size jets; they can also include unmanned variants of manned aircraft like the Little Bird helicopter or the F-16 and also of course unmanned dirigibles. Some 'remotely piloted vehicles' can despite the remote pilot nevertheless carry passengers and some are 'optionally piloted'. Lumping all these into one category and saying 'what's the problem with this compound category' will end up with a lot of blurring and obscuring of some important issues.

There are not many 'new' issues raised by UAS operations and in some cases controllers can find it easier to handle UAS than to deal with the 10 flying hour NORDO student pilot in the VFR GA aircraft :uhoh:

[SamanthaUW]

Hi Ian,
Thank you very much for your feedback. It is very informative.
In terms of the definition of “non-cooperative”, we are using it to mean that the aircraft does not have transponders/ADS-B, or in other words the aircraft is non-cooperative in the sense that it is not cooperating with the surveillance system. This point is also clarified in the survey.
We are still collecting responses and if you were interested and had the time, it would be really helpful to us if you could complete the survey so we can capture your experience/expertise. Your participation would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Xiaochen

[Ian W]

n terms of the definition of “non-cooperative”, we are using it to mean that the aircraft does not have transponders/ADS-B, or in other words the aircraft is non-cooperative in the sense that it is not cooperating with the surveillance system.

Then unless there is some NOTAMed airspace for the UAS to operate in - the UAS should NOT be in that airspace as it does not have the requisite equipage. However, it may be that NAV Canada is more forgiving on that kind of thing :).

[SamanthaUW]

This study is officially closed. Please refer to the update in the original post for links to results and analysis.

Thank you again for your help!

Xiaochen