Evaluating Controller Communication Time as a Measure of Workload

The duration time that an en route controller is actively engaged in ground-to-air communications has been investigated to determine if the duration is a valid measure of controller workload. Data was collected during a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Planned View Display Baseline Study conducted with Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center personnel. The correlation coefficient between the controllers' communication duration of the 4 min prior to a rating and the controllers' real-time subjective workload ratings was r = .88, p < .01, which validates communication duration as a workload measure. Automated monitoring of duration time would allow warning of controller stress on a real-time basis.