About the ATC Interactive Demonstrator Program
This program has not been written as a "game". You will not find Voice Generation, and "voice overs" of R/T from ATC recorded tapes. It is a serious effort to demonstrate the way forward in Air Traffic Control. It is founded on research work carried out by Human Factors and ATC planning experts within the European arena, although the ideas can apply to any ATC area.
In order to get the best from the program look below in the section which applies to your particular area of interest. Whatever your background, I hope the program will give you an insight into the way Air Traffic Controllers work, and what can be done to make the skies as safe as possible, and the controller's job a rewarding undertaking despite the increased pressure from more and more flights.
Please read Operations Manual which comes with this version.
There are previous versions for ®Microsoft Windows 3.1 and DOS which are no longer supported. However, the DOS version does contain two features which have not been reproduced in the ®Microsoft Windows version (the Vertical Assistance Window, and the dynamic mouse pointer positioning on menus). Previous versions can be found in the archives section.
The program will be installed in a folder (directory) of your choice. It does not make any changes to the Windows registry.
Vic Day
User-specific Information
Air Traffic Controller or ATC Planner
This demonstration has been written for YOU. Several different simulation files have been supplied in order to give a better overall view of how this ATC functionality can be applied in many different areas. You may not recognise the various simulated airspace or be familiar with the inbound and outbound co-ordination procedures of that airspace. However you can, and are highly encouraged to, create your own simulation files. That way, you may understand better how ATC can be performed in your particular environment with this type of interface.
If you are outside Europe, then you may find some ideas which are distinctly different - in particular, the absence of a systematic "hand-off" procedure for our North American colleagues. Although such a procedure is not used in Europe, you can come close to it through the "assume" and "transfer" functions on the callsign menu. You could also envisage how such a procedure could be incorporated in your system.
Pilot
You will be familiar with the effect of ATC on your flight, but may be less familiar with the data the controller has, and the sorts of problems he may be faced with. The simulation gives you an opportunity to discover the problems of ATC and the sort of data needed in order to keep the flights separated. Also, you may begin to appreciate how the exchange of data between the air and the ground, sometimes passively, and sometimes actively, will begin to change the way in which we all work, and will provided a basis for better decision making in the future.
Other ATC Related Area
Depending on your involvement in ATC, this simulation may or may not be useful to you. If you are in the software area, an engineer, or in industry etc. this program will give you an idea of the type of presentation needed at an HMI level. It will also show the close interaction between the flight data processing and the HMI. A significant point to be understood is that whilst the HMI and the supporting systems may be split into separate parts - they must both interact with each other. It is false to say that any HMI can be built onto a system. The HMI is an expression of the way the controller and the system work together, therefore changes to the HMI effect the system components and changes to the system components affect the HMI. Changes in either, or both, effect the way in which the controller is able to use the system to fulfill his/her task. As a simple example, it is of little use for the controller to input information into the system such as the cleared flight level, if the system does not do something with it – such as update the internal trajectory, check for conflicts (new or resolved), and update the controller display accordingly. Thus providing a system which allows input of the cleared level is linked to the need for providing meaningful and relevant system processing.
Non-ATC or Games Enthusiast
If you don't know anything about Air Traffic Control, this program will probably seem confusing and perhaps pointless or uninteresting. If you have used TRACON, then it might be a bit more obvious. There are no "top scores", or "fastest times". You do not "die" if you get it wrong. There are no clever tricks and special effects and artificial intelligence to pose puzzles for you to solve. The different simulation files are not graded into easy, difficult and expert. What you do get is an insight into the way Air Traffic Control is carried out in different areas (of Europe), and the way the planners are looking into the future. Next time you fly, maybe your flight will be controlled by a system looking something like this.