Fake Aircraft, Real Threats: Training Air Traffic Controllers for CyberattacksShow others and affiliations
2026 (English)In: Intelligent Human Systems Integration (IHSI 2026): Disruptive and Innovative Technologies / [ed] Tareq Ahram, Waldemar Karwowski, Laura Giraldi, Elisabetta Benelli, USA: AHFE International , 2026, Vol. 200, p. 148-158Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
As part of the modernisation of air traffic management, a growing number of infrastructures and technologies are being deployed to improve air traffic services. While these developments can improve situation awareness and operational efficiency, they also come along with increasing cybersecurity risks. This study presents a half-day training concept for air traffic controllers to identify cyberattacks exploiting ADS-B vulnerabilities. Eight experienced Swedish Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) participated in three simulation runs using the Attack Simulator, a cybersecurity training platform that simulates various cyberattacks. Performance was measured by the correct identification of six probabilistically occurring attacks, with weighted scores reflecting the difficulty of each event. Knowledge transfer through briefing and video-based training aimed to educate ATCOs about cyberattacks that they could realistically face during their duties. Subjective assessments of situation awareness, workload, and stress were generally acceptable. Results suggest that training significantly improves ATCOs’ ability to respond to cyberattacks.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
USA: AHFE International , 2026. Vol. 200, p. 148-158
Series
Intelligent Human Systems Integration (IHSI) ; 200
Keywords [en]
Cybersecurity, Risk, Human factors, Training, Air traffic management, Digitalisation
National Category
Computer and Information Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-220303DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007074ISBN: 9781964867762 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-220303DiVA, id: diva2:2026399
Conference
Intelligent Human Systems Integration (IHSI 2026): Disruptive and Innovative Technologies, Florence, Italy
Funder
EU, Horizon Europe, 101114635
Note
This publication is based on the work performed in the SEC-AIRSPACE project, which has received funding from the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 101114635 under European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.
2026-01-092026-01-092026-01-12