Eurocontrol Testing and Interviews

[LessThanSte]

Oh yes, regarding the age thing, i am currently 24, im 25 in february which would be before the course i would have started in may, but they let me progress all the way to the interview.

Send them an email back saying that you are aware of other people who are older than you having gone through the FEAST test. Its cheeky i guess but if they've said they are not going to let you progess then its worth a punt!

[Unregistered12]

i had the same problem, but i think they kicked me because of english.

[LessThanSte]

That is perhaps quite true Evolv. The slightly annoying part is though that they are more likely to learn things about your personality from a day of testing than an interview, where nerves get the better of people. Its maybe slightly odd that the 3 people on the interview panel had no insight in to anyone during phase 2.

I think if i was setting it up id have at least 1 of them involved with the phase 2 discussions, who could at least take that information in to the interview. At present it seems they get around a table and discuss each candidate, presumably with a report from the other stages of testing, which seems less efficient.

But then i doubt id be saying that if i got through

Still, onwards...

[Greeen]

Do you think it's worth to give it a second try in two years if I failed the first phase? Somebody tried? Somebody's going to?

[Unregistered12]

i wouldn't do that. the feast test isn't very difficult. the chance is very very high to fail the training if you need a second try to pass it.

[LessThanSte]

I think Eurocontrol say that if youve already taken a FEAST test and failed then you wont be eligible to take it again. If you drop out at stage 2 or 3 and are still young enough to start training theyll let you have another go.

[Unregistered12]

you can try again the feast test, but they warn you that it doesn't make sense to try it again.

[Unregistered12]

hey, does anyone know if it makes sense to try the interview again? or does anyone know if you have to be perfect because it's your second try/ if they ask you why you failed last time and what you have done to improve it?

[g0ten]

:)

Hi , I was invited for phase 1 on 18 f October. Anyone ..? :Pp

[band1tu]

I'm on 18 also

edit: Pen and paper are allowed at the cube test?

[dcoliv]

Greetings octopus4848!

That situation is strange indeed. If you read the document they provide on their website (http://www.eurocontrol.int/muac/gall...010-OP-001.pdf), they clearly state that you need to be under 25 on October 1st 2010. If your 25th birthday is in June 2011, then you surely meet the age requirement.

Nowhere on their website or on any other place have I found any indication that you need to be 25 when the training starts, although I believe that may be the case. It is the only explanation for their action.

I am sorry I am not more helpful, but if you do find the answer will you please let me know? Unfortunately I may well be in a similar situation, since I will be 25 next March.

Thanks in advance!

[Flying_Badger]

Skytest

Hi guys,

Anybody know what kind of scores you would need to be achieveing in the skytest examples to pass the FEAST?

[Flying_Badger]

Anybody any ideas???

[elandel]

Have'nt a clue - please elucidate!

[Crazy Voyager]

I don't belive there's a way to tell.

I shall firstly point out that I have not tried skytest myself, nor have I done feast, yet anhow

But the feast test is designed for it's only purpose of selecting ATC trainees, no other considerations have been made in the design. I personally looked at skytest and then thought it didn't matter, because the feast test will most likely be made to take along a percent or two too much rather than sort out someone with potential enough to be able to take on the training.

If there's someone around here who passed feast and used skytest they might be able to give you a clue, but I personally decided that either I "have it in me" or I don't. And there's no way of knowing if skytest is an accurate counterpart to feast or not, so overall my personal opinion is that it's better to focus on doing other stuff for preperation.

Feast is designed to be made without preperation, and yes it's always good to be as prepared as possible. But my personal opinon is that this is an exception to that rule.

[davidarmstrong1985]

skytest is bull****. it only is a nice present for your bin.

if you use skytest, the percentage is very high that you will not pass the training.

the feast is easy, only basic skills, you don't need skytest. skytest is the worst thing you could use!
the feast is not like a test in school. either you have the skills or not!

[dcoliv]

Hi guys,

Anybody know what kind of scores you would need to be achieveing in the skytest examples to pass the FEAST?

Greetings,

I cannot speak from my own personal experience because I did not use the SkyTest software (too expensive). What I can tell you is:

1 - it is perfectly possible to pass the FEAST and SDM tests without previous training, as many people in this forum have done that (myself included);

2 - in my opinion, FEAST and SDM test different things. Whereas FEAST tests whether you have some basic skills, like spatial awareness (distances/headings/angles/cubes), quick reaction time (bars+balls), rule adherence (planning exercise) and the ability to adapt to new rules (the exercise with geometric shapes/numbers, etc.), SDM test is all about how much can you learn in 90 minutes. They do not expect you to reach a 100% score. Instead, I believe they're looking if you have what it takes to learn what they want to teach you in the future.

3 - obviously, it is also possible to pass the tests by previously training. I am not against those who do this, on the contrary actually - I think it shows initiative, willingness to pass and motivation. A good friend of mine, who also applied, bought the SkyTest CD and trained really hard. He told me that the FEAST test was pretty much easier than the one provided in the software. I think that, after some weeks training, he got 100% in the distances/headings/angles test, 100% in the english comprehension test, and between 50% and 80% in the others, with the exception of the cubes, which were significantly lower. Still, he passed the FEAST test.

4 - Regarding the SDM test, he was pretty nervous for some weeks, because he could not reach a score higher than 50% on level 1. That's because the SDM test in the SkyTest software is a lot harder than the actual SDM test. Strips appear constantly and most ETAs are separated by less than 5 minutes. In the actual test, the ETAs are much further apart (e.g. 15:31 and 16:10), which facilitates how quick you can look for conflicts for example. At the end of the SDM test, he had found 7 local conflicts, 0 opposite conflicts, but he never had a warning, that is, he never removed a strip too early or marked an already marked conflict, so that must have given him a good score, because it shows accuracy. Of course, one can argue that his accuracy was due to his training and not to his natural ability, but I do think that what counts is how you are able to learn - either by natural gift or by working hard. It doesn't matter. At the end of the day what matters is that you have done a good job.

I hope this post helps answering some of your questions, and best of luck in the future!

[Flying_Badger]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I suppose I was just curious to see how the two compared and what level of difficulty skytest was compared to the FEAST. Perhaps they're not very comparable afterall!

[lukejones]

Hi,

I should be starting at Eurocontrol in February 2011 pending my medical in November. Can't wait! Fingers crossed for the medical. I can't believe how quick the process has been, everyone at Eurocontrol has been so helpful.

I was just wondering if anyone knew what type of leave/holiday/study time trainees are given while on training in both phases? I have been given information, like phase 1 is 14 weeks in a location so far undecided, phase 2 is 20 weeks in Luxembourg and then the final phases are approx. 83 weeks in MUAC. But I'm guessing there must be some sort of breaks, just wondering if anyone with any experience could help me out so I could let my family know when they could see me again!

Also out of curiosity, what sort of holiday allowances are given to ATC's with Eurocontrol? Nothing is really given on the Eurocontrol website.

Thanks

Kind Regards,

Luke Jones.

Also, anyone else meant to be starting in February or have a medical in November (16th) ?

[tsorin16]

@lukejones
My medical should be sometime in March. I was told that the course will start at the end of May.
I'm also curious about the breaks from the training.

Good luck with your medical!