A Scale Development Study For Evaluating The Competency Perception of Air Traffic Controllers

<p>Ensuring the competencies that influence the performance of air traffic controllers is a key priority for the aviation sector in terms of flight safety. Notwithstanding the efforts of international organizations, the absence of a statistically valid and reliable scale in the academic literature for the measurement of air traffic controllers’ competency perceptions signifies a notable gap. The aim of the study was to develop a scale for measuring air traffic controller competency. The study sample comprised 482 air traffic controllers. Following semi-structured interviews and document analysis, an item pool was established, ensuring content validity through expert input, with a CVR value of 0.901. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) resulted in a construct comprising 19 items and two factors, titled "Procedural Competencies" and "Behavioral Competencies". The construct was validated through confirmatory factor analysis, with factor loadings ranging from 0.63 to 0.80. The reliability of the scale was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, item-total correlation, and upper and lower 27% comparisons. The Air Traffic Control Competency Scale (ATCCS) was established as a valid and reliable tool for measuring air traffic controller competency perceptions, with potential applications across all areas of human resources in air traffic control. The application of this scale represents a significant advancement in evaluating and developing air traffic controller competencies. Further studies are recommended to expand and validate the ATCCS to ensure the continued safety and efficiency of the aviation industry amidst rapid technological advancements and increasing industry volume.</p>