Human error analysis of a safety related air traffic control engineering procedure

An analysis has been carried on an air traffic control (ATC) engineering procedure using the Technique for Human Error Assessment (THEA). The procedure under assessment covers the safety related activities that will be required to upgrade software on the ATC system at the Swanwick Centre. This paper illustrates the effectiveness of the THEA process in achieving the required objectives outlined. It is structured as follows: an overview of the THEA process; an outline of the procedure under assessment; how the analysis was carried out and the output; and a discussion of the benefits and disadvantages associated with the application of THEA on the procedure.