FEAST test
Encyclopedia
The First European Air Traffic Controller Selection Test (FEAST) is a test used by the European air traffic control organisation (Eurocontrol). It was created for those wishing to become air traffic controllers and aids selection of suitable candidates. According to Eurocontrol, this test package is used by 26 member states and other (military) organizations of Eurocontrol, particularly by Eurocontrol itself. Participation is possible for applicants with citizenship in a member state of Eurocontrol (Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom). The development of FEAST began in 2000 and was finally finished in 2004. At that time, Eurocontrol was Europe's first air traffic control using the FEAST test. After an evaluation of the first test results in 2004, Eurocontrol decided in 2005 to keep using this test and during the same year, the first European national air traffic controllers showed an interest in the FEAST test as well. The duration of the FEAST test is not a fixed one, since some air traffic control organisations add other tests which they also consider to be important features. Generally, with all breaks included, it takes approximately 8 hours. Some national air traffic control organisations split the test into 2 sections. Applicants are only invited to take part in the 2nd part if they pass the 1st part.
proficiency. All instructions and all tasks are described in English. Even those air traffic services, which hold it in their national language, hold the final part in English. Additionally, there are many web pages of several national air traffic organisations which offer free tests which are very similar to certain parts of the FEAST test.
questions. The test contains questions related to the following:
Some air traffic control organisations now add additional tests, for example a special reaction test or detection of a figure (a house) out of a muddle of lines.
On the other hand the FEAST test is seen to be a very fair test: if this test is taken directly at Eurocontrol, all travel expenses and costs of hotels are reimbursed, as far as the applicant's residence is out of an area of 50 km from the Maastricht upper area control centre. Everyone, especially those of poorer member-countries of Eurocontrol, has a fair and realistic chance. Excessively so, no specific knowledge of mathematics or physics are required. Psychological "pre-selections" do not exist either. Applicants from all member countries of Eurocontrol are encouraged to participate and since the systems of education of each of the member states are rather different, Eurocontrol sets the priority of the FEAST test on basic skills. Additionally, unlike some other national air traffic control organisations, multiple attempts are possible.
Preparation and future of the FEAST test
Preparation for the FEAST test is very difficult. However, as nearly all national air traffic organisations in Europe (with some exceptions) which use the FEAST test hold it completely in English, one can generally prepare by improving one's general level of EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
proficiency. All instructions and all tasks are described in English. Even those air traffic services, which hold it in their national language, hold the final part in English. Additionally, there are many web pages of several national air traffic organisations which offer free tests which are very similar to certain parts of the FEAST test.
Content
Nearly all parts of the FEAST test consist of multiple choiceMultiple choice
Multiple choice is a form of assessment in which respondents are asked to select the best possible answer out of the choices from a list. The multiple choice format is most frequently used in educational testing, in market research, and in elections-- when a person chooses between multiple...
questions. The test contains questions related to the following:
- In a coordinate systemCoordinate systemIn geometry, a coordinate system is a system which uses one or more numbers, or coordinates, to uniquely determine the position of a point or other geometric element. The order of the coordinates is significant and they are sometimes identified by their position in an ordered tuple and sometimes by...
, aircraft are represented as dots. Horizontally, lines are called “A, B, C, D, and E,” and vertically, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5.” For example, the dot C3 is where the lines “C” and ”3” cross. Each square has a length of 10. The directions are depicted in a circleCircleA circle is a simple shape of Euclidean geometry consisting of those points in a plane that are a given distance from a given point, the centre. The distance between any of the points and the centre is called the radius....
and are represented in degreeDegree (angle)A degree , usually denoted by ° , is a measurement of plane angle, representing 1⁄360 of a full rotation; one degree is equivalent to π/180 radians...
s (out of 360). Applicants are to estimate the distanceDistanceDistance is a numerical description of how far apart objects are. In physics or everyday discussion, distance may refer to a physical length, or an estimation based on other criteria . In mathematics, a distance function or metric is a generalization of the concept of physical distance...
between an aircraft and a given dot, as well as the new head up a plane must face turning to the left or to the right to get to a certain given point. In the coordinate system, many dots and planes can be seen, but the relevant ones must be found quickly.
- ReflexReflexA reflex action, also known as a reflex, is an involuntary and nearly instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus. A true reflex is a behavior which is mediated via the reflex arc; this does not apply to casual uses of the term 'reflex'.-See also:...
action test: In the so-called “ball on the wall test”, applicants must push a button when 2 moving objects (a ball and a line or wall) collide. Eventually the screen is divided into 2 parts, requiring concentration on 2 collisions. Finally, 4 parts are simultaneously seen, and one's attention must be on all of them. Sometimes the balls return and collide again. All of the images vary in speed.
- A number, consisting of 5 to 6 digits, is spoken (in English) and this should be remembered. Numbers are put into a sentence (multiple choices) - the content of the sentence is unimportant; only the number is relevant.
- In the EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
section (which some air traffic control organisations do not see as important, compared with other features of the FEAST test) there are 3 sections. The 1st part is to listen to a sentenceSentence (linguistics)In the field of linguistics, a sentence is an expression in natural language, and often defined to indicate a grammatical unit consisting of one or more words that generally bear minimal syntactic relation to the words that precede or follow it...
, which is interrupted with a beep-tone. Applicants then choose the word (from the choice offered) which is the closest in meaning to the sentence. The 2nd part is the “whole comprehension” of English. A storyNarrativeA narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
is told, after which some questions are asked. For example, one story deals with a controller, who gave the wrong order “runway cleared for take-off” to the pilotAviatorAn aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, who almost collided with a vehicle transporting keroseneKeroseneKerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
. The planeFixed-wing aircraftA fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
missed the vehicle by inches. The lorryLorry-Transport:* Lorry or truck, a large motor vehicle* Lorry, or a Mine car in USA: an open gondola with a tipping trough* Lorry , a horse-drawn low-loading trolley-In fiction:...
driver suffered an acute stress reaction and a psychological assessment was needed. Another story deals with birds living near airports and animal protectors replacing their eggs with artificial ones. The 3rd part is only one sentence, the content of which can be described in another way. For example, in one sentence, someone had paid debts in 5 payments of $20. The multiple choice answer “He paid $20” is, of course, wrong. The right answer would be, “He paid $100”.
- In the landing instructions, applicants have to guide some aircraft to the ground. Some of the displayed runways are closed. The 2 numbers to the right of the aircraft represent the identification number of the aircraft (on the top) and its speedSpeedIn kinematics, the speed of an object is the magnitude of its velocity ; it is thus a scalar quantity. The average speed of an object in an interval of time is the distance traveled by the object divided by the duration of the interval; the instantaneous speed is the limit of the average speed as...
(on the bottom). The arrowArrowAn arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
on the runwayRunwayAccording to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
means that aircraft must land from this direction. Via some dots, which the aircraft has to pass, applicants have some choices to direct the aircraft down to the runway. The rules are: slower aircraft must give way to faster aircraft; no overflying of any runway; and any crossing of the route of any other aircraft is forbidden. However, sometimes a message occurs that selected aircraft have a higher priorityPriorityPriority may refer to:* Priority date, a concept of establishing waiting times in the immigration process by United States Department of State* Priority level, the priority of emergency communications...
, even if they are slow in their speed; or that some aircraft above a certain speed are not allowed to land; or that a certain aircraft must land immediately. There is a short time limit to complete this exercise.
- In a lengthly reactionReactionReaction may refer to:Response to another event*Adverse drug reaction*Chemical reaction*Emotional reaction*Light reaction*Nuclear reaction*TNA Reaction, a documentary show of TNA behind scenes.*Reaction , as defined by Newton's third law...
test, applicants have to sort some shapeShapeThe shape of an object located in some space is a geometrical description of the part of that space occupied by the object, as determined by its external boundary – abstracting from location and orientation in space, size, and other properties such as colour, content, and material...
s. On the bottom part of the screenScreen- Separation or partitioning :* Window screen, a wire mesh that covers a window opening* Fire screen, a device to put in front of a fireplace* Windbreak of trees or shrubs* Windshield , protects the driver of a vehicle...
is a small keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, on which there are some shapes (triangleTriangleA triangle is one of the basic shapes of geometry: a polygon with three corners or vertices and three sides or edges which are line segments. A triangle with vertices A, B, and C is denoted ....
, circleCircleA circle is a simple shape of Euclidean geometry consisting of those points in a plane that are a given distance from a given point, the centre. The distance between any of the points and the centre is called the radius....
, diamondDiamondIn mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
, squareSquare (geometry)In geometry, a square is a regular quadrilateral. This means that it has four equal sides and four equal angles...
, etc.). Suddenly a shape appears on the top part of the screen. The applicant is given approximately 1 second to push the button corresponding to the shape displayed. Sometimes an instruction appears to sort particular shapes in another way (for example, if you see a triangle, sort it as a square). Sometimes the shapes must be sorted by their colour, independent of the shape itself. Again, there are also sometimes instructions to sort it differently (for example, all red circles must be sorted as blue objects). Very often beside the displayed shape on the top part of the screen, another shape can be seen. If both shapes are the same, applicants must press the “same” button, irrespective of the colour or the figure. This "same" command overrules all other instructions regarding sorting of the shapes. The 2nd part of this is the same as the 1st, but instead using numbers rather than shapes. For example, when the number 48 is displayed, it must be sorted into one category - this would be sorted into “0-99”. However, this exercise also develops as time passes; for example, if the sum of the digits of the number displayed is greater than 10, it must be sorted as if it were in the category “200-300”, and so forth.
- In the cube test, the applicant's spatial awareness is tested. A net of a cubeCubeIn geometry, a cube is a three-dimensional solid object bounded by six square faces, facets or sides, with three meeting at each vertex. The cube can also be called a regular hexahedron and is one of the five Platonic solids. It is a special kind of square prism, of rectangular parallelepiped and...
is shown which must be mentally constructed and compared with 2 cubes. Most of the time, one of the cubes corresponds to the net of the cube shown; sometimes neither of the 2 options correspond. There are 25 minutes for 36 cubes. (Here the 1st part of the test ends, if national air traffic control organisations split it into two parts (see above)).
- In the final part of the test, local and opposite conflicts on air strips are presented. This is the so-called “flight strip test” or "strip management display". During the test, a clockClockA clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
is running in the corner of the screen. The rest of the screen is divided into columns, one for the airspace at each hypothetical airport in the test. At each airportAirportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
is a collection of strips. These need to be sorted in order of time. Simultaneously, you need to remove strips which have now expired and identify conflicts between both flights coming in and out of the airport and flights in the airport's airspace. While doing this, new strips are continuously added to the display.
Some air traffic control organisations now add additional tests, for example a special reaction test or detection of a figure (a house) out of a muddle of lines.
Result
A result is given directly after the test, or via a letter, e-mail or phone call. These results are computed by the central computer of Eurocontrol in Brussels (each candidate is connected with this computer via internet). The score required to proceed to the next round of selection differs from one air traffic control organisation to another. If a candidate has already successfully participated in a FEAST test, Eurocontrol offers a special certificate for trying it again elsewhere. Each company has a different opinion of whether an applicant is allowed to try the test again or not. According to the rules of Eurocontrol, unsuccessful applicants must wait 2 years before a second attempt.Criticism and commendation of the FEAST test
Although 26 member states of Eurocontrol use the FEAST test, it is not as popular elsewhere. One criticism, for example, is that two relevant test features which an air traffic controller must possess are missing: left-right coordination and mental arithmetic. Another criticism of the FEAST test refers to the English part of the FEAST test: some national air traffic control organisations add (after a successful FEAST test) an oral English test (a conversation with a native English speaking air traffic controller). The results of this oral English test are equivalent to the so-called "ICAO Level 4 English Knowledge Requirement"[1], which every pilot and air traffic controller must have. People who obtain relatively low scores in the English part of the FEAST test often pass this second English test easily and one can doubt how objective the English part of the FEAST test actually is.On the other hand the FEAST test is seen to be a very fair test: if this test is taken directly at Eurocontrol, all travel expenses and costs of hotels are reimbursed, as far as the applicant's residence is out of an area of 50 km from the Maastricht upper area control centre. Everyone, especially those of poorer member-countries of Eurocontrol, has a fair and realistic chance. Excessively so, no specific knowledge of mathematics or physics are required. Psychological "pre-selections" do not exist either. Applicants from all member countries of Eurocontrol are encouraged to participate and since the systems of education of each of the member states are rather different, Eurocontrol sets the priority of the FEAST test on basic skills. Additionally, unlike some other national air traffic control organisations, multiple attempts are possible.