This study investigates color use in air traffic control (ATC) facilities to understand the ways color is being used, the associated benefits, and its influence on task performance. It was found that, while color use has some advantages for information processing, such as reducing workload and saving time, it also has disadvantages and may introduce negative effects in task performance. The benefits of color use were identified, and rationales were...

One of the current trends in air traffic control (ATC) display technology is a substantial increase in the use of color. Whereas the advantages of color may seem apparent, little attention has been devoted to potential disadvantages of color use with respect to complex cognitive aspects of the ATC environment. Although controllers use several different displays simultaneously (designed and manufactured by different companies), the Federal Aviation...