FEAST test
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The First European Air Traffic Controller Selection Test (FEAST) is a test of the European air traffic control (Eurocontrol). It was created for those wishing to become air traffic controllers. According to Eurocontrol, this test package is used by 16 member states and other (military) organizations of Eurocontrol, particularly by Eurocontrol itself. By the end of 2007, 20 member organizations are expected. 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, the former Yugoslav Republic of 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. 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 battery is not a fixed one, since some air traffic controls add other tests, which they also estimate as important features. Generally, with all breaks included, it takes approximately 8 hours. Some national air traffic controls split the test into 2 sequences. For the 2nd sequence, applicants are only invited if they pass the 1st part successfully. In such cases, applicants only have to take this test for 2 and a half hours and, if successful, are then invited for the remainder.
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[edit] Preparation and future of the FEAST test
A real preparation is scarcely possible. Software dedicated to preparation exists, but this software is usually deficient in its purposes. However, as nearly all national airtraffic services of Europe (with some exceptions), which use the FEAST test, hold it completely in English, one can generally prepare by upgrading one's general level of English proficiency. All instructions and all tasks are held in English. Even those air traffic services, which hold it in their national language, hold the last part in English. Additionally, there are many webpages of several national air traffic controls, which offer free accessible tests, which are very close to the parts of the FEAST test.
[edit] Content
Nearly all parts of the FEAST test consist of multiple choice. The test contains questions related to the following:
- In a coordinate system, planes 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 the crossing of lines “C” and ”3”. Each square has a length of 10. The directions are like in a circle — out of 360 degrees. Applicants are to estimate the distance between a plane and a given dot, as well as how many degrees a plane must turn 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.
- Reflex 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) which the applicant is to remember, as it is asked via multiple choice. These numbers are put into a sentence. The content of the sentence is unimportant; only the number is relevant.
- In the English part (which some air traffic controls 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 sentence, which is interrupted with a beep-tone. Via multiple choice, applicants choose the word which is the closest in meaning to the sentence. The 2nd part is the “whole comprehension” of English. A story 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 pilot, who almost collided with a vehicle transporting kerosine. The plane missed the vehicle by inches. The lorry driver went into shock, 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 is then to be related in other words. 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 planes to the ground. Some of the shown runways are closed. The 2 numbers right of the plane represent the identification number of the plane (on the top) and its speed (on the bottom). The arrow on the runway means that planes have to land from this direction. Via some dots, which the plane has to pass, applicants have some choices to lead the planes down. The rule is: Slower planes have to give way to quicker planes, no overflying of any runway and any crossing of the route of any other plane is forbidden. However, sometimes a message occurs that some planes have a higher priority, even if they are slow in their speed; or some planes above a certain speed are not allowed to land; or that a certain plane must land immediately. There is an extreme time limit to solve this exercise.
- In a very long-lasting reaction test, applicants have to sort some figures. On the bottom of the screen is a small keyboard, on which there are some figures (triangle, circle, diamond, square, etc.) Suddenly, on the top of the screen, a figure appears. The applicant is given about 1 second to push the button corresponding to the figure. Sometimes a message occurs to sort it in another way (for example, if you see a triangle, sort it as a square). Sometimes the figures must be sorted by their colour, independent of the figure itself. However, there also sometimes appears a message to sort it differently (for example, all red circles must be seen as blue objects). Very often beside the shown symbol, another figure can be seen. If both are the same, applicants must press the “same” button, irrespective of the colour or the figure. The 2nd part of this is the same as the 1st one, but with numbers. For example, the number 48 is in the category “0-99”. However, this exercise is also changed; for example, if the total of the digits of the number is bigger than 10, it is to be sorted as if it were in the category “200-300”, and so forth.
- In the cube test, the applicant's mental abstraction is tested. A model of an open cube is shown, which must be mentally put together and compared with 2 cubes. Most of the time, one of the cubes corresponds to the model of the cube shown; sometimes none of the 2 suggestions do. There are 25 minutes for 36 cubes. (Here the 1st part of the test ends, if national air traffic controls split it (see above)).
- In the last part of the test, local and opposite conflicts on air strips are presented. This is the so-called “air strip test” or "strip management display".
Some air traffic controls now add some tests, for example a special reaction test, or to detect a figure (a house) out of a muddle of lines.
[edit] Result
A result is given by feedback directly after the test, or via a letter, e-mail or phone call. The limit to proceed to the next round differs from air traffic control to air traffic control. If one 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 new try. However, if one does not pass this test successfully, this does in no way mean that the candidate was stupid. For example a "connected thinking", which is a very subsential and vital feature of human's development, is scarcely needed during this test.
[edit] Criticism and commendation of the FEAST test
Although 20 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: That is why some national air traffic controls add (after a successful FEAST test) an oral English test: A conversation with native English speakers of an ATC personnel. The results of this oral English test are equivalent to the so-called "ICAO level 4 of English knowledge requirements", which every pilot and air traffic controller meanwhile must have. People, who had relatively low scores in the English part of the FEAST test, often passed the above mentioned English test, easily. That is why one can doubt how objective the English part of the FEAST test actually is. On the other hand the FEAST test is a very fair test: If this test is taken directly at Eurocontrol, all travel expanses and costs of hotels are reimbursed. That means that all parts of the society, especially of poorer member-countries of Eurocontrol, do have a fair and realistic chance. Excessevely so, no specific knowledge of mathematics or physics are required compared with other national air traffic controls. Psychological "pre-selections" do not exist either. As, on the one hand, all applicants from all member countries of Eurocontrol should be encouraged to participate, but as on the other hand the systems of education of the member states are rather different, Eurocontrol sets the priority of the FEAST test on basic skills. Additionally, in spite of some other national air traffic controls, a new try is possible.
