FEAST Eurocontrol

Project lead
Prof. Dr. Stefan Höft

Third-party funding provider
Eurocontrol

Project duration
June 2019 – July 2021

The "First European Air traffic controller Selection Test (FEAST)" is a web-based tool for the recruitment and selection of air traffic controller students developed by the organisation for the support of European aviation (EuroControl) . It is operated for global customers in the air traffic control sector under the User Pays Principle (UPP) (feast-info.eurocontrol).

What FEAST offers consists of different aptitude-test processes which can be used to record and assess the knowledge, skills and other personal characteristics required of junior air traffic controllers. 

• Provision of a psychometric onlineaptitude test from the beginning for the selection of ATC-trainees (including evaluation of the English language)
• First-line helpdesk and maintenance of a softwareplatform that FEAST runs on
• Accreditation workshop for the first implementation for all users
• Refresher courses in classrooms and on-site workshops if requested by the user
• Organisation and facilitation of the FEAST user group
• Test development and validation of tests and other professional services connected with FEAST

The FEAST service requires regular external specialist knowledge in order to support the review of its technical and psychometric developments. For this reason, independent advice is integrated in key areas on a constant basis in FEAST the development and validation process. 

The three main areas in the FEAST counselling project at the HdBA comprise: 

• a review of its personality assessment in its staff selection and in the air traffic control selection with FEAST, 
• reflection and discussion of the influence of test preparation and pre-selection of test candidates as well as
• inspection and review of new assessment methods in the selection process

This counselling was carried out by a recognised expert in the field of professional aptitude testing with experience in aviation psychology, Prof. Dr. Höft. He was supported by Prof. Dr. Daniel Danner and Prof. Dr. Doris Keye-Ehing from the psychology specialist group at the HdBA.

According to the Research Contract, three workshops in total were planned in the counselling project, together with the FEASTworking group for EuroControl . 

• The first workshop on personality assessment in the context of FEASTwas held in November 2019 in Heidelberg. 
• Due to the Corona pandemic, an extension of the project was arranged by contract until the middle of 2021. The second workshop was then online in November 2020 and was primarily about issues concerning the influence of preparatory strategies and repeat effects of the skills assessment in various FEASTtesting procedures. 
• The third workshop was then in person again in July 2021 at the HdBA in Mannheim and was about specific topics on diagnostics in the context of FEAST (Adverse Impact, Innovation in aptitude testing). 

At the end of July 2012, the project was officially completed. The year 2022 will see some informal meetings on the aftermath of the workshops as well as discussions on possible further projects.