Air traffic controllers (ATCOs) perform one of the most cognitively and emotionally demanding professions in the aviation sector. This profession requires constant vigilance, rapid decision-making, and a high level of resilience under time pressure. These occupational demands often lead to elevated levels of work-related stress, which may compromise not only individual well-being but also organizational performance and aviation safety. Mindfulness, defined as a non-judgemental awareness of present experiences, has been proposed as a protective factor against stress. Although the relationship between mindfulness and job stress has been studied in different sectors and professional groups in the literature, there are very limited studies for ATCOs. This study investigates the relationship between mindfulness and perceived work stress among air traffic controllers in Türkiye. In this study, quantitative research method was used. The population of the study consists of air traffic controllers working in Turkish airspace. Data were collected through a survey from 335 air traffic controllers selected using convenience sampling and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. According to the research findings, it was determined that there was a significant negative correlation between work related stress and the sub-dimensions of mindfulness, such as observing, defining, acting with awareness, and non-reactivity to internal experiences. In addition, acting with awareness was found to be a statistically significant predictor of work related stress.
Airline operational performance is substantially affected by delays and cancellations. This study presents a comparative analysis of performance changes between 2022 and 2024 using key indicators such as on-time performance, cancellations, diversions, and delay causes (air carrier, weather, security, NAS, and late aircraft). The results reveal a clear seasonality pattern across all three years. Average on-time rates improved from 76.3% in 2022 to 78.3% in 2023, before slightly declining to 78.0% in 2024, with 2023 showing the best overall performance. Peak on-time performance occurred in October 2022 (83.25%), November 2023 (86.22%), and October 2024 (85.81%), while the lowest levels were observed in December 2022 (68.72%) and July in both 2023 (69.45%) and 2024 (68.08%). Cancellation rates were highest in 2022 at approximately 2.8%, followed by a notable improvement in 2023 (1.3%) and stability in 2024 (1.35%). Diversion rates remained consistently low (around 0.23%-0.24%) with no significant variation. In terms of delay components, Air Carrier Delays decreased over time, whereas NAS Delays and Late Arriving Aircraft Delays showed a gradual increase. Overall, the findings suggest the possibility of a gradual shift from operational pressures associated with Air Carrier Delays toward broader system-level constraints, particularly NAS-related and Late Arriving Aircraft delays, affecting operational performance.
The growing use of automation, digital interfaces, data-driven decision-support systems, and artificial intelligence has significantly transformed aviation operations and reshaped human–machine interaction. Although digitalization is often associated with efficiency, standardization, and error reduction, its effects on human performance, decision-making, and safety are not one-dimensional. In some contexts, digital systems support operators and improve operational reliability, while in others they may reduce active human involvement, weaken situational awareness, and increase overreliance. This study systematically reviews the literature on the effects of digitalization on human factors, safety, and decision-making in aviation operations. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 framework. A total of 485 records were identified through Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, and 25 studies were included in the final analysis after a multi-stage screening process. The selected studies were examined through a theoretically guided narrative synthesis, focusing on workload, situational awareness, trust in automation, decision-support systems, and safety-related outcomes. The findings show that digitalization has a dual and context-dependent impact on human performance. While digital systems can reduce workload, improve decision speed, and increase consistency in routine tasks, they may also create new risks in highly automated environments. Recent post-2018 studies further indicate a shift from classical automation toward AI-enabled and data-driven systems, where model transparency, data quality, explainability, trust calibration, and organizational oversight have become central concerns. Overall, digitalization alone does not guarantee safer aviation operations; safety depends on the balanced integration of human, technological, and organizational elements.
