EFPS
My main concern about EFPS is that the request is not coming from the OPS side but from the industry , with in background the aim to more automatize the ATS functions. Its clear that they do'nt have OPS experience in that area and their system is build as a generic tool in oder to satisfy their owns views, not in order to help ATCOs. Especially for TWR -ground and Local- it's a disaster.. As presented by them, it will work the same in Atlanta, Biggin Hill or Dubaļ !
Most of the system I have been involved with ( OPS implementation verification in new towers) request more actions, wich are time consuming, than paper strips or a system which at the simpliest could mimic only a paper strip and then being upgraded with regards to the real need. ( Like "vigie strip" protoype from DTI in France). As aresult, ATCOs are spending most of their time head down on the EFS display..!!
Most of those systems do'nt cope also with the ICAO recommandation (DOC9758 about Human factors) which state that any kind of information present on a display should not disappeared from it without a positive action from the ATCO. (eg, when airborne the EFS moves automatically from a "runway box" to a "transfer box", the trouble coming from the different systems which design differently by software what is the "airborne time.
Also some systems (Eurocat T e.g.) are design with a runway drawing in the middle. When cleared to line up the EFS moves immediatly from "holding list" to the runway....even if for any reason the captain dont move the aircraft for 3 minutes and the worst is an alarm which can be triggered due to the command, not the real position !
Also the color coding makes most displays look like a christmas tree (For ICAO no more than 6 colors, used in parrallel with other devices like Inverted video)
I could add 10 pages of those inconsistencies. There is a real need to transfer to the global system, actions, time or position of traffic in a more effective manner if it can help the efficiency of ATM . But a flight strip is a short term planning support to ATCO ( European "Mantea" study ), writing is an helper to short term memory and also, really a concern in most existing systems, a flight strip is not a flight plan....