This paper summarizes the information gathered through a Focus Group held in Washington, D.C., to explore interactions between airline Operations Control Centers and the FAA Air Traffic Control Systems Command Center. Eight airline dispatchers and two ATC coordinators from seven airlines, two experienced staff from ATCSCC and one airline captain participated. Observers included eight FAA staff from Research and Development, Flight Standards and Operations Research, and two MITRE Corporation representatives.

Factors identified contributing to successful interactions included: a shared understanding of goals, problems, constraints and potential solutions; collaboration that balances distributed responsibilities and knowledge; process control and immediate feedback; and dispatchers assigned to ATC coordinator roles.

Enhancements that can be made in the near term include: improved communication to airlines of ATCSCC policies and practices; elimination of ATC practices that lead to flight plans in conflict with FAA regulations; improved consistency in FAA implementation of policies to assist planning on the part of the airlines; assigned roles in airline operations centers for ATCSCC contact; update 121.65 training requirements to reflect the current airline transportation world; reduced response time to airlines regarding non-preferred routes. Airline-ATCSCC cooperation is leading to solutions that increase safety, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.

Return to the FAA Human Factors Home Page