The allocation of feedforward and feedback control in air traffic management

This paper presents the framework for an information processing model of distributed decision making. It illustrates the utility of the model with an analysis of the allocation of decision making responsibilities at the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) air route traffic control centers (ATC center). These centers are FAA facilities that provide the service of managing en-route air traffic and keeping aircraft separated. The model characterizes decision making in an ATC center as a process control task in which traffic management coordinators have the primary responsibility for feedforward control and sector controllers have the primary responsibility for feedback control. The construct of feedforward control is illustrated by analyses of the role known as the 'flow position.' The construct of feedback control is illustrated by analyses of the task of sector control. The paper argues that the model presented here is an appropriate and useful framework for understanding distributed decision making and the task of controlling rapidly changing processes.