feathers
February 25th, 2004, 03:35 PM
Today in Air Traffic 42 class (ATC Environment) we continued watching a Sporty's video about the ATC system. It's mostly geared for pilots, but it has good behind-the-scenes shots and excellent explanations. They even talked about 'trying to file a flight plan that is met by gales of laughter from the controller -- or from the FAA computer system'. ^_^
But there's just something about the TRACON displays that overwhelm me. I can sit and look at the center displays (this was shot in the pre-DSR days) all day and everything is cool, but I'm totally lost by the TRACON ARTS displays! I think it's a combination of the sweep and that what's left by the sweep (primary targets, map, gate-overlays, etc) seems to disappear so fast, leaving only the datablocks and symbols. It's like... what was that? Wait, it already disappeared! I just found it funny (and kind of disturbing) that every time they showed a shot of ARTS displays, I got... like... anxious!
Anyone else get this feeling? No doubt I'd feel better in front of a STARS terminal, which is supposed to be a composite rendering like the DSR. On the other hand, if you worked at an ARTS display 8 hours a day, 7 days a week... probably you'd get used to it before long.
It was really cool to see, though. I'm still just floored by the way someone in a center shot effortlessly slid up a row of strip-holders, pulled out a strip, let the pile drop, lifted them up three slots down and dropped the strip into place. It was one, effortless, fluid maneuver. Fantastic!
James
But there's just something about the TRACON displays that overwhelm me. I can sit and look at the center displays (this was shot in the pre-DSR days) all day and everything is cool, but I'm totally lost by the TRACON ARTS displays! I think it's a combination of the sweep and that what's left by the sweep (primary targets, map, gate-overlays, etc) seems to disappear so fast, leaving only the datablocks and symbols. It's like... what was that? Wait, it already disappeared! I just found it funny (and kind of disturbing) that every time they showed a shot of ARTS displays, I got... like... anxious!
Anyone else get this feeling? No doubt I'd feel better in front of a STARS terminal, which is supposed to be a composite rendering like the DSR. On the other hand, if you worked at an ARTS display 8 hours a day, 7 days a week... probably you'd get used to it before long.
It was really cool to see, though. I'm still just floored by the way someone in a center shot effortlessly slid up a row of strip-holders, pulled out a strip, let the pile drop, lifted them up three slots down and dropped the strip into place. It was one, effortless, fluid maneuver. Fantastic!
James