Among various factors causing aviation safety, human
errors were the primary cause of approximately 90% of flight safety-related events in Taiwan from 2000 to 2009, followed
by environmental factors and aircraft mechanical error (Aviation Safety Council, 2010).
Human errors may occur during interactions (i.e., communications and comprehensions) between pilots and air traffic
controllers (ATCs) which are most likely to jeopardize flight safety (Wang, 2007). The importance of the interactions to flight
safety is logical when the role of pilots as the primary protectors of flight safety in the aviation domain is considered. During
aircraft operations, pilots gather information via advanced technical equipments and follow instructions from the ATCs. The
ATCs collaborate with pilots, technical staff, management, and other controllers. They are responsible for the safe operation
of flights, which involves establishing an orderly, expeditious flow and maintaining a safe distance between aircrafts; furthermore,
they also direct planes efficiently to minimize delays.
Pilots and ATCs have key professional roles in air transport operations. From a safety perspective, landing and take-off are
the most critical phases of a flight, and ATCs play an important role in both. For example, ATCs who did not maintain
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