FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-20/04

Title and Subtitle: Physical Ability Requirements for the Airways Transportation Systems Specialist (ATSS) Occupation

Report Date: September 2018

Authors: Broach D, Scarborough A

Abstract: Airway Transportation Systems Specialists ("systems specialists;" ATSSs; FV-2101) areresponsible for the maintenance, operation, and management of the technical infrastructure of the U.S. National Airspace System. Systems Specialists work in field Systems Support Centers which are organized by "specialty" based on the types of facilities, services, and equipment at a given location. There are five specialties: Automation; Communications; Navigation; Surveillance; and Environmental.

Objectives. The first objective of this study was to describe and compare thefrequency of performing physically-oriented other work activities (OWAs) in the course of theirduties by specialty. Examples of OWAs include climbing ladders of various heights to reachequipment, working out-of-doors, and lifting or carrying sometimes heavy objects. These OWAs arenot job tasks in and of themselves, but are performed in the course of normal ATSS duties. Thesecond objective of this study was to describe and compare the profile of sensory, physical, and psychomotor abilities required of specialists by specialty.

Method. Data from the ATSS JobAnalysis (Broach, Vestal, Martin, Krokos, Josias, Manville, Johnson, & Scarborough, 2018) areanalyzed by specialty by cross-tabulations and one-way analysis of variance by specialty. Results.Relatively speaking, specialists in the Environmental specialty perform some physically-orientedother work activities such as crouching, working outside, climbing short (less than 8 foot) ladders,and working with arms overhead, somewhat more often than specialists at other SSC types.Automation is the least physically demanding specialty. The other specialties fall in between thesetwo poles. Performing these other work activities requires specialists to possess abilities such assight, hearing, and strength at the time of hire. There were no differences by SSC type in theimportance of 27 of 31 physical, sensory, and psychomotor abilities, however, all 31 of thephysical, sensory, and psychomotor abilities were rated by 70% or more of the job analysisparticipants as needed at the time of hire.

Conclusions. The ATSS job is characterized bymoderate physical demands in the course of performing maintenance tasks. Specialty-specificphysical, psychomotor, and sensory ability profiles are not required for the ATSS occupation.

Key Words: Airway Transportation Systems Specialist, Job/Task Analysis, Ability Requirements

No. of Pages: 85