FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-65/22

Title and Subtitle: Problems in air traffic management. VII. Job and training performance of air traffic control specialists-measurement, structure, and prediction.

Report Date: July 1965

Authors: Trites DK, Miller MC, Cobb BB.

Abstract: A statistical study of training- and job-performance measures of several hundred Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCS) representing Enroute, Terminal, and Flight Service Station specialties revealed that training-performance measures reflected:

1. performance in the training laboratories;
2. academic performance; and
3. instructors' opinions.

In the job-performance area, supervisors seemed to be evaluating

1. overall performance of an ATCS;
2. his interpersonal orientation;
3. job orientation;
4. job potential;
5. job performance; and
6. emotional stability.

By examining the practicability of the job-performance measures by training performance, aptitude tests, previous job-relevant experience, and demographic characteristics, evidence was elicited that:

1. the ATCS specialties differ in the characteristics required for job performance;
2. Terminal supervisors more consistently evaluate their ATCS in comparison with Enroute supervisors;
3. opinions of the ATCS training-course instructors are the best predictors of subsequent job performance; and
4. aptitude tests, previous job-relevant experience, and age at entry into training are related to job performance but not at very high levels.

Key Words: air traffic controllers, training, job analysis, aptitude tests, performance (human), air traffic control systems, factor analysis, predictions, supervisors.

No. of Pages: 14