The evaluation of trainning airspace complexity and air traffic controller workload with real flight data and in the context of expert opinions

The great importance of air traffic management has been increasing for safe and efficient air traffic flow in all airspaces and airports. This trend is supporting the role of air traffic controllers who manages airspaces and airports operated for flight training conducted to supply increasing demand of pilot. Recent studies on air traffic management for airspace complexity and measurement on air traffic controller workload were focused on operations in enroute and terminal areas. In the literature review, there is limited studies related to controllers who serves in the airspace used for flight training. In this research, it is aimed to evaluate workload and complexity factors under the safety and efficiency umbrellas for flight training airspace. Research has been conducted to achieve this goal on Hasan Polatkan Airport flight training airspace and its shareholders. Qualitative research methods used to have evaluations and opinions of airspace users and air traffic controller's. Quantitative research methods used to analyze 4801 real flight data operated by air traffic controllers in this airspace. In scope of this research firstly, individual interviews were made to mature for performing focus group studies with eight qualified operational experts. The suggestions made by evaluating results of these analysis in conjunction with actual flight data. When examining all evaluations, flights vary in the Anadolu flight training airspace and it is observed that these flights were condesed in the certain days of the week and certain time ranges of the day. In this case the airspace becomes more complex and resulting incresaed workload of the the controllers.