ABSTRACT
An experimental investigation is presented, in which it is tested whether multi-sector-planning (MSP) in the context of data link can reasonably relieve and function in support of the sector controller. The main question is to what extent the modification of the human-machine function allocation changes the operator’s mental representation of the air traffic? Besides a SAGAT based measure, a new situation awareness measurement method, called SALSA, is applied. This method is also based on reproduction tests. In addition to the rate of correctly reproduced elements of the task environment, it pays special attention to the relevance of these elements. Subject matter experts rate this relevance during a replay of the simulation experiment. Results show that the amount of information rated as relevant and the SAGAT measure decreased in the MSP condition, while the SALSA measure increased in the same condition. These results indicate that the application of SALSA is able to show the benefits of the system that would not have been detected with standard methods.
