NATS Electronic strips
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I wish I had a clue what you guys were talking about because the subject of electronic strips interests me greatly.
Beware. In America, the FAA installed a system called URET (User Request Evaluation Tool) that was designed for what the name implies (granting user/pilot requests) but was turned into a flight progress strip replacement.
The FAA (as always) did a very poor job with the human factors. Enroute controllers here are all too happy to stop marking and shuffling strips but I believe -- from a safety standpoint -- it's a disaster waiting to happen.
Don Brown
Atlanta Center (Retired)
Beware. In America, the FAA installed a system called URET (User Request Evaluation Tool) that was designed for what the name implies (granting user/pilot requests) but was turned into a flight progress strip replacement.
The FAA (as always) did a very poor job with the human factors. Enroute controllers here are all too happy to stop marking and shuffling strips but I believe -- from a safety standpoint -- it's a disaster waiting to happen.
Don Brown
Atlanta Center (Retired)
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I would guess that the strip info would have to be displayed on the radar screen.Is the Aussie TAATS system like this?
The far right screen is the aux display, in which you can see two columns of electronic strips. Some strip fields are 'local' i.e. if you enter data in them they can only be seen at that console. Other fields are 'global', i.e. anyone that brings up that strip on their console can see them.
For most purposes the Main and Aux Displays can be treated as one display, with windows able to be moved from one to the other as desired. The cursor also cunningly moves across from one display to the other simply by moving the mouse off the edge of the display.
The radar tags on the main display can have additional text (e.g. headings) entered into them by simply clicking on them and typing. Anyone within the FIR can see the data entered, whether approach or enroute.
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Ollie,
A quick question as you seem to know. Can the position of the electronic strips be easily moved around?
Also, on the picture you linked, there are two columns of strips. Is there a way that you can have four columns of strips and move any individual strip around that display?
Thanks
A quick question as you seem to know. Can the position of the electronic strips be easily moved around?
Also, on the picture you linked, there are two columns of strips. Is there a way that you can have four columns of strips and move any individual strip around that display?
Thanks
Thread Starter
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You could be right that Manchester is first.I think Ice Station is up there as well because the Bytron FDPS system is on it's last legs.
I worked with quite a few Aussie's and I don't think they were too keen on TAATS.Also that was a nationwide change,where as our EFPS system looks like it couldn't be integrated with the radar screens.In otherwords thrown in on the side,and difficult to use while trying to look at a radar.Working in Class G with the military all over the place,doing SRA's,freecallers and having EFPS to the side and not connected to the primary display.
Also we have to use 2 screens at different ranges to cover the extra area that has just been lumped on us.Is it me or is it time to get a pension update.
I worked with quite a few Aussie's and I don't think they were too keen on TAATS.Also that was a nationwide change,where as our EFPS system looks like it couldn't be integrated with the radar screens.In otherwords thrown in on the side,and difficult to use while trying to look at a radar.Working in Class G with the military all over the place,doing SRA's,freecallers and having EFPS to the side and not connected to the primary display.
Also we have to use 2 screens at different ranges to cover the extra area that has just been lumped on us.Is it me or is it time to get a pension update.
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Silent Handover
Which unit is going to be first/last changes by the day!
TAD
No the strips will not be on the radar screen. The NATS Approach version is still being finalised. The Ice-stations rep involved in the process is SW.
All - Having spent quite a bit of time "playing" with EFPS, I don't see the Headings "issue" as particularly major - if the configuration is done right then all it would take is 2, possibly max 3, touches with the "dibber(pen)" for each heading.
A common misconception is that for a heading (or level or time etc) you have to "type" it in number by number. You don't. Saying more than this about Commercial project on a public forum is probably wrong so I won't! (especially as most people at my unit know who DD is!)
DD
Which unit is going to be first/last changes by the day!
TAD
No the strips will not be on the radar screen. The NATS Approach version is still being finalised. The Ice-stations rep involved in the process is SW.
All - Having spent quite a bit of time "playing" with EFPS, I don't see the Headings "issue" as particularly major - if the configuration is done right then all it would take is 2, possibly max 3, touches with the "dibber(pen)" for each heading.
A common misconception is that for a heading (or level or time etc) you have to "type" it in number by number. You don't. Saying more than this about Commercial project on a public forum is probably wrong so I won't! (especially as most people at my unit know who DD is!)
DD
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Well, it does depend on how your adaptation is set up.
However, as far as I know, the Heading and Alt pop-up box is the same (i.e. you can't use one for easterlies, and a different one for westerlies etc) across the board.
We've only got room for quick buttons for I think five different altitudes, and four different headings, perhaps less. There's also a quick button for 'Straight Ahead'. If you want anymore than that, then the box will be getting so big as to cover the strips too much. So if you want any headings that are not covered by the quick button you will have to type it in using the keypad pop-up.
However, as far as I know, the Heading and Alt pop-up box is the same (i.e. you can't use one for easterlies, and a different one for westerlies etc) across the board.
We've only got room for quick buttons for I think five different altitudes, and four different headings, perhaps less. There's also a quick button for 'Straight Ahead'. If you want anymore than that, then the box will be getting so big as to cover the strips too much. So if you want any headings that are not covered by the quick button you will have to type it in using the keypad pop-up.
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so unless your giving a cardinal point (for example if you only have four options) the instances of RSI amongst ATCO's is going to increase.
I can't see that ever working in a busy radar environment. I for one use plenty more headings than 4..
I'd spend half my shift typing and how would that work when it comes to a handover time. I'm guessing if EFPS was used in a radar enviroment (non AC) then the majority of ac will have to follow SIDS/STARS to reduce the amount of manoeuvring involved.
Just my tuppence worth
I can't see that ever working in a busy radar environment. I for one use plenty more headings than 4..
I'd spend half my shift typing and how would that work when it comes to a handover time. I'm guessing if EFPS was used in a radar enviroment (non AC) then the majority of ac will have to follow SIDS/STARS to reduce the amount of manoeuvring involved.
Just my tuppence worth
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Well, you as a unit can choose the headings on the quick buttons. Of off the top of my head we've got 220 (usual heading for CPTs off 09R), 240 (I think!), Straight Ahead and maybe one more.
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Having had the pleasure to train on a steam driven system then move to Eurocat X (like AUS TAATS) there was a lot of apprehension about all the worries posted here.
Typing a heading in the free text line takes as much, if not less, time than writing on a strip. It takes about a shift to get used to. And you don't look away to search for the strip. Ditto for Alt/FL inputs. This is done with a drop down menu and a mouse click.
Anotherthing - You can have as many columns as you like. Pending, Starting, Inbound, Arr. sequence, Active, you name it. Active strips are always on your main window. You can have strips and a second radar display (any range) on your second screen. You can move strips around in one box, but you can not move it to another box, this is done by the system.
Tired-flyboy - When it comes to handover time, all aircraft on headings have it displayed on the label. No pointing to each individual on a heading and confirming the heading/Alt. What you see is what you get. The free text goes with the label on handover from one sector to another. You hand the label to Area, it flashes on the screen and when the Area guy accepts it he sees the heading/speed in the free text label.
Some units allow silent co-ord. This is done via the ICM (Inter Console Message). Approach will request a higher level from Area by typing it on his own screen, sending it to the relevant Area sector. The message pops up on the Area screen and Area responds in the same way back to Approach. It takes about ten seconds and you can co-ordinate without having to stop controlling. That is if you're a woman, us men can't multitask
.
The odd thing I realised after about a year though, is that you tend to use the EFPS less and less. Eventually you stop using it alltogether and work on the label and main screen only. Because the system reduces workload in many ways you have more time to mess around with your labels.
Sorry for the VLP.
Typing a heading in the free text line takes as much, if not less, time than writing on a strip. It takes about a shift to get used to. And you don't look away to search for the strip. Ditto for Alt/FL inputs. This is done with a drop down menu and a mouse click.
Anotherthing - You can have as many columns as you like. Pending, Starting, Inbound, Arr. sequence, Active, you name it. Active strips are always on your main window. You can have strips and a second radar display (any range) on your second screen. You can move strips around in one box, but you can not move it to another box, this is done by the system.
Tired-flyboy - When it comes to handover time, all aircraft on headings have it displayed on the label. No pointing to each individual on a heading and confirming the heading/Alt. What you see is what you get. The free text goes with the label on handover from one sector to another. You hand the label to Area, it flashes on the screen and when the Area guy accepts it he sees the heading/speed in the free text label.
Some units allow silent co-ord. This is done via the ICM (Inter Console Message). Approach will request a higher level from Area by typing it on his own screen, sending it to the relevant Area sector. The message pops up on the Area screen and Area responds in the same way back to Approach. It takes about ten seconds and you can co-ordinate without having to stop controlling. That is if you're a woman, us men can't multitask
.The odd thing I realised after about a year though, is that you tend to use the EFPS less and less. Eventually you stop using it alltogether and work on the label and main screen only. Because the system reduces workload in many ways you have more time to mess around with your labels.
Sorry for the VLP.
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Swanwick AC will have fully electronic strips once iFACTS is introduced. The HMI has been subject to a lot of work to make it simple, quick and as idiot proff as possible to use.
Swanwick TC will go electronic when EFD (Electronic Flight Data) is introduced sometime in the future, no definite date yet as the project has only just kicked off. R&D work has been ongoing on the Multi Sector Planner (MSP) role for quite some time now but its still a long way off getting to a project stage.
AC and TC will combine onto a single system at some time in the future, possibly around 2016 but could be later, 2018.
Interstingly Swanwick Military are already fully electronic and have been since moving to Swanwick in 2002.
BD
Swanwick TC will go electronic when EFD (Electronic Flight Data) is introduced sometime in the future, no definite date yet as the project has only just kicked off. R&D work has been ongoing on the Multi Sector Planner (MSP) role for quite some time now but its still a long way off getting to a project stage.
AC and TC will combine onto a single system at some time in the future, possibly around 2016 but could be later, 2018.
Interstingly Swanwick Military are already fully electronic and have been since moving to Swanwick in 2002.
BD
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Swanwick TC will go electronic when EFD (Electronic Flight Data) is introduced sometime in the future, no definite date yet as the project has only just kicked off.
Interestingly Swanwick Military are already fully electronic and have been since moving to Swanwick in 2002.
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In a word no....
how could a computer keep up to date with all the heading changes in conditions like today!
paper and pen for me!
in AC the planner uses the EFPS to coordinate in and out aircraft, TC coordinators don't have the time to do that.
how could a computer keep up to date with all the heading changes in conditions like today!
paper and pen for me!
in AC the planner uses the EFPS to coordinate in and out aircraft, TC coordinators don't have the time to do that.
