Air Traffic Controller: The Game

There have been many reports lately that late-shift Air Traffic Controllers are falling asleep on the job. What can game design do to keep Traffic Controllers more engaged, and more alert?

Finn Haverkamp, Blogger

April 28, 2011

1 Min Read

On the recent spike in reports on Traffic Controller fatigue, CNN writes:

"It's no surprise that a half-dozen air traffic control specialists were recently caught sleeping on the job. The Federal Aviation Administration is well aware that air traffic controllers have been falling asleep every week at each and every air traffic control facility in the nation for at least 30 years -- and they still are."

Staying awake during a midnight shift cannot be easy, and yet we ask many people to do so each night. One essential solution is to ensure that these workers have slept long and well during the daylight hours. But maybe this isn't the whole issue. Boredom is also involved. I'm not privvy to the inner workings of a Traffic Control Tower, but I wouldn't be surprised if the workers are prohibited from engaging in activities other than monitoring the air. Crossword puzzles? Angry Birds? I don't know. Ultimately, though, what may be extraordinarily helpful is to redesign the Air Traffic monitoring system. What can game design offer to the job to make it more engaging?

I am not well researched on how Air Traffic Control works. Maybe a redesign isn't even possible. But some of you may be better informed or may appreciate the challenge.

Here are a few resources I googled that you may find of interest:

Career Profile

How Stuff Works

Brain Monitoring