AVAILABILITY ASSESSMENT SIMULATIONS FOR ALLOCATING HUMAN RESOURCES IN AIRSPACE CONTROL CENTERS

Abstract

Airspace control systems introduced automation into functions previously performed by human operators. This situation increased the dependence on the availability of computer systems, in which degraded operation events can reduce the service level at any controlled airspace. This paper presents a relationship between availability and allocation of human resources in these centers, where maintenance and operations personnel are occasionally asked to repair losses caused by automated functions. A simulation model for the Arena tool is presented, to access availability, and then the operational point of view is explored, focusing on the required availability scenarios. The results presented herein can help determine the size of operations and maintenance teams, considering the reliability and maintainability parameters of airspace control systems.