ABSTRACT
A key focus of this study was to examine the influence of time constraints on the decision-making processes of controllers in OCCs. This was achieved by examining the decision-making processes in international OCCs and domestic OCCs separately. The reason for this is because decision-making in each environment is quite unique. In international operations, long-haul flights may be up to 18 hours in duration and even short-haul flights may be several hours long. The time an aircraft spends on the ground between flights (turnaround or turn time) is usually several hours as well. This enables a degree of freedom in terms of the time needed for controllers to evaluate disruptions that may arise and respond accordingly. However, in domestic operations substantial differences exist. Flights are often short (1–2 hours) in duration, aircraft are usually turned within 30–60 minutes and subject to the nature of the airline’s operational network, there may be a myriad of crew and passenger connection times between inbound and outbound flights. Thus, decision-making in disruptions may be intense and decision time-frames are markedly shorter. Chapter Seven presents the findings and analysis in relation to decision-making processes by the 33 participants in the international simulations. Chapter Eight will present the findings and analysis in relation to decision-making processes by the 19 participants in the domestic simulations.
