Investigating Human Factors Engineering Integration in ATC Cybersecurity Resilience

Abstract

The digital transformation of Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems has improved operational efficiency and safety. However, increased reliance on technology has introduced significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities. While current cybersecurity strategies often focus on technical defenses, they tend to overlook the critical role of human operators, particularly air traffic controllers (ATCOs), in ensuring system resilience against cyber threats. ATCOs are the primary users of the advanced technology. Failing to account for their cognitive and physical limitations in cybersecurity solutions can lead to cognitive overload, reduced situation awareness (SA), increased error rates, and fatigue, ultimately compromising the effectiveness of technical safeguards. Human Factors Engineering (HFE) offers a valuable approach by optimizing human-system interaction and accounting for user characteristics, capabilities and limitations in complex, high-risk environments like ATC. This study explores the integration of HFE principles into ATC cybersecurity protocols to enhance system resilience. Using an exploratory qualitative approach, it synthesizes insights from scholarly literature, government reports, case studies, and industry best practices to propose a conceptual framework for HFE integration in ATC cybersecurity. Five key HFE principles, including user-centered design, error reduction, safety prioritization, accommodation of individual differences, and task-person fit, are identified as essential for supporting ATCOs in cyber threat detection, decision-making, and system interaction. Findings highlight that HFE-informed designs, such as intuitive interfaces, adaptive alerts, ergonomic workstations, and tailored training, can reduce cognitive workload, improve SA, and support ATCO performance during cyber-attacks.This study underscores the need to integrate HFE into aviation cybersecurity, promoting a holistic approach that acknowledges and promotes human capability and usability. It offers insights for enhancing both technology and human reliability against evolving threats and contributes to the growing discourse on human-centered cybersecurity, laying the groundwork for future research on quantifying HFE’s impact in ATC environments.

Keywords: Air traffic control, human factors engineering, cybersecurity

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006147