Evaluation of an Airport Traffic Signal System Concept
The purpose of this project was to evaluate the concept of using
airport traffic signals for taxi and takeoff traffic and to determine the usefulness of this system for providing visual verification of verbal control instructions to these aircraft.
The Airport Traffic Signal System was fabricated by the North American Aviation Corp. and consisted of 15 rotating, three-sided, lighted·signs with the words "GO" in green, and ''HOLD'' in red on . two of the sides and with the third side blank. They were located adjacent to the runways used for a north operation. The signs were controlled from desk mounted panels located in front of the local and ground controllers. Tests were conducted during September and October, 1966, by a National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center Project Team.
The controllers and pilots using the system at Washington
National Airport were used as test subjects during the evaluation. Results indicated that the use of an airport Traffic Signal System as it was employed at the Washington National Airport was not practical because operation of the system distracted the controller from his primary control functions.
RD-67-30
Author: Enoch H. Wright