Tracon Lab

The Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) Lab is a realistic simulation of the terminal radar environment.

The I-SIM ® ATM technology integrated into the terminal radar labs from industry leader Kongsberg Geospatial is capable of simulating all ATC systems – air traffic control training, air space design/analysis, advanced computer-human interface development and can support unmanned aircraft system integration into the National Airspace System. 

The lab integrates ATC common interactions in a terminal radar facility. The I-SIM ATM modeling and simulation software has long been used by the FAA for Human Factors Engineering as well as complex airspace design and analysis work. With its high level of realism and ability to simulate real-world terminal environments, I-SIM delivers realistic STARS (terminal) scenarios to students. Student pseudo pilots control aircraft and adjacent sectors, and interphone communications.

Potential research topics include spatial and temporal perception and attentional allocation, workload management, biometric analyses, in-flight emergency management, communication errors, cognitive biases, knowledge sharing processes and errors, fatigue, shared situation awareness, and decision making.

Equipment

• 8 Terminal radar controller positions
• 8 Pseudo pilot positions
• 1 Supervisor position