Dead Reckoning: Air Traffic Control, System Effects, and Risk

Dead Reckoning by Diane Vaughan explores the complex and high-pressure world of air traffic controllers, who navigate technology and political and public climates to keep the skies safe. Vaughan observed the distinct skill sets of air traffic controllers and the ways their workplaces changed to adapt to technological developments and public and political pressures. The result is a nuanced and engaging look at an essential role that demands great coordination, collaboration, and focus, and that technology will likely never be able to replace.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 640 pages
Publication date: 13 February 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

When two airplanes were flown into the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, Americans watched in uncomprehending shock as first responders struggled to react to the situation on the ground. Congruently, another remarkable and heroic feat was taking place in the air: more than six hundred and fifty air traffic control facilities across the country coordinated their efforts to ground four thousand flights in just two hours—an achievement all the more impressive considering the unprecedented nature of the task.

In Dead Reckoning, Diane Vaughan explores the complex work of air traffic controllers, work that is built upon a close relationship between human organizational systems and technology and is remarkably safe given the high level of risk. Vaughan observed the distinct skill sets of air traffic controllers and the ways their workplaces changed to adapt to technological developments and public and political pressures. She chronicles the ways these forces affected their jobs, from their relationships with one another and the layouts of their workspace to their understanding of their job and its place in society. The result is a nuanced and engaging look at an essential role that demands great coordination, collaboration, and focus—a role that technology will likely never be able to replace. Even as the book conveys warnings about complex systems and the liabilities of technological and organizational innovation, it shows the kinds of problem-solving solutions that evolved over time and the importance of people.

Vaughan's book is a valuable contribution to the study of air traffic control and the broader field of organizational analysis. It offers a detailed and nuanced account of the challenges and rewards of working in a high-pressure and complex environment, and it sheds light on the ways in which technology and human interaction can work together to achieve remarkable outcomes. As the aviation industry continues to evolve and grow, it is clear that the work of air traffic controllers will remain an essential part of ensuring the safety and efficiency of air travel. Vaughan's book provides a valuable roadmap for understanding and improving this critical role.

Weight: 962g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 42 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226826578