Methods for maintaining the professional skills of air traffic controllers in the context of technological progress and automation of work processes

The article addresses the problem of professional skill regression among air traffic controllers in the context of implementing highly automated systems. Automation, while reducing workload in normal operations, leads to a loss of practical experience and diminished readiness for abnormal situations. The study is based on the developed mathematical model of skill regression that accounts for the degree to which skills are substituted by technology. Using this model and an assessment of the automation level, a targeted skill maintenance methodology is proposed to solve the problem. Its key element is an adaptive simulator training program. Exercise scenarios are generated based on model data and include practicing basic control, responding to automation failures, and developing situational awareness in a hybrid human‑machine environment. The methodology ensures not only the preservation but the active development of competencies critical to flight safety, offering a scientific approach to building a continuous training system for controllers in automated environments. Unlike traditional approaches, the proposed methodology shifts the focus from periodic skill checks to continuous dynamic development. It not only counteracts regression but also fosters a deep understanding of the automated system’s logic within the controller, which is fundamentally important for preserving the human role as the key link responsible for safety. Thus, this work contributes to the creation of a sustainable and reliable ergatic system where technological progress does not weaken but purposefully enhances the professional potential of the specialist.

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