(Salle F106)
Arminen, Ilkka (University of Tampere, Tampere)
Palukka, Hannele (University of Tampere, Tampere)
Bodily coordination of air traffic control
team work
Air Traffi c Control systems manage the fl ow of air traffi c. We study
the work practices of a single cell of such a complex system, that is,
the Tampere Air Traffic Control Centre (TATCC) that handles fl ights
when they are in its area. It is responsible for producing the air
traffic flight information and communication services, and managing
airspace coordination and supervision while aircrafts move in its
area. The airspace of the centre is divided into six sectors. Within
TATCC, there are four radar suites each of which is responsible for
controlling one or more sectors of the airspace. Work in most of
the radar suites is organized into teams consisting of three members :
Executive Controller, Planning Controller, and Air Traffic Control
Assistant.
In our presentation we will show a piece of data that presents the
bodily co-ordination of team work between the Executive Controller
and the Planning Controller based on video-taped materials collected
January-April 2003 in real work situations at the Tampere
Air Traffic Control Centre. We will show how gestures, like pointing,
gaze directions and bodily postures form a part of the intersubjective
orientation of the practical achievement of the air control team
work. Pointing allows a party to highlight an aspect of the information
fl ow as a shared focus for the organization of action. It turns
out to be signifi cant in that it contributes toward controllers recognizing
a potential problem that subsequently may be defi ned and
resolved. The data will demonstrate the way in which gestures and
bodily coordination form an inseparable part of the air traffic control
team work.
