The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) will implement new automation tools to allow controllers to effectively manage the projected increase in air travel over the next decade. In order for the implementation of NextGen tools to be successful, it is important that air traffic controllers (ATCos) develop appropriate levels of trust in these automated tools. The present study investigated whether students could be trained to trust automation in a NextGen environment, and whether their trust in automation would affect their air traffic management performance. We also examined if personality traits influence the student's likelihood to trust automation. We found an early benefit in terms of efficiency in air traffic management for students who were trained to trust automation. We also found that people with high emotional stability reported higher levels of trust in automation.
