A study on human factor issues of ATSEPs was suggested by IFATSEA in the Twenty-third Meeting of the Communications/Navigation and Surveillance Sub-group of APANPIRG CNS SG/23 at Bangkok, Thailand, during 2-6 September 2019 through WP 19 on agenda item 9: Human Factors and Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEPs) related training. The CNS SG fully recognized the importance of Human Factors and ATSEP training in support of ANS operations and asked IFATSEA to carry a study on the subject.
IFATSEA initiated the study, to identify the significant factors that add stress and fatigue and affect their safety job performance, to identify the significant counter measures, and to identify the means for improving the safety culture and professional engagement.
Based on the study outcomes, final consolidated counter measures and significant factors were listed as recommendations in the study report submitted in the Twenty Fourth Meeting of the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Sub-group of APANPIRG CNS SG/24 in the Web-conference, held during 30 November – 4 December 2020.
The meeting appreciated the effort led by IFATSEA and recognized the values of recommendations from the study report and supported the further scope of work proposed by IFATSEA and then formulated conclusion CNS SG/24/17 for APANPIRG 31 consideration. Subsequently the conclusion was adopted by APANPIRG 31 that (a) the States are encouraged to make reference and implement the recommendations made out of the IFATSEA study report Factors adding stress and fatigue to ATSEP provided in Appendix R to the CNS SG/24 Report for pro-active measures; (b) States are also encouraged to join the small working group for finding the left-out gaps and in preparing the regional ATSEP human factor guidance material.
The study report has executive summary and all key findings of the study along with the links for detailed study report submitted at ICAO APAC. I would like to request entire ATSEP community to make use of this study and share the valuable thoughts to IFATSEA for ensuring the task taken by Asia Pacific is completed effectively and the civil aviation stakeholders are benefited.
I would like to request ANSPs across the world to consider the study recommendations proactively and specifically request the ANSPs from APAC region to come forward to collaborate.
Here the link to the Study on the IFATSEA E-Library:
https://ifatsea.app.box.com/folder/134371613901
Thorsten Wehe
President, IFATSEA
Frankfurt, Germany