FEAST Visual Perception and Memory 2

Question 1

On a radar display, a primary radar return (skin paint) appears without an associated secondary radar return (transponder). This most likely indicates:

Accepted Answer

An aircraft with a non-functional or switched-off transponder

Answer

A helicopter that is too small to return a secondary signal

Answer

A radar equipment malfunction affecting secondary returns only

Answer

A bird strike that has disabled the transponder and damaged the aircraft

Question 2

A controller looks at a radar scope and must compare the current positions of 6 aircraft with their positions from 30 seconds ago. The mental skill primarily required is:

Accepted Answer

Visual working memory — holding the previous positions in memory and comparing with current positions

Answer

Spatial reasoning — calculating geometric relationships between tracks

Answer

Processing speed — quickly scanning and updating all 6 positions

Answer

Long-term memory — recalling previously memorised radar patterns

Question 3

On a radar display, three aircraft are in a line between positions A and B. Aircraft 1 is at A, Aircraft 2 is at midpoint, Aircraft 3 is at B. Which is the most visually salient cue that aircraft 2 is at risk of being involved in a conflict?

Accepted Answer

Aircraft 2 is between two other tracks — geometrically constrained with nowhere to manoeuvre without conflicting with one of the others

Answer

Aircraft 2 is at the midpoint, which is the centre of attention on any radar display

Answer

Aircraft 1 and 3 are at the ends, which are lower risk positions

Answer

Aircraft 2 must be in the most dangerous position because it was listed second

Question 4

A radar display uses colour coding: green = normal, amber = alert, red = critical. A controller working in a dimly lit operations room suddenly sees a red track. The most likely visual processing pathway that allows fastest detection of this red track among green tracks is:

Accepted Answer

Pre-attentive feature detection — colour is processed in parallel across the visual field without requiring focused attention

Answer

Serial visual search — systematically checking each track for the red colour

Answer

Working memory recall — remembering which sectors typically show red tracks

Answer

Peripheral vision detection — the controller is using their peripheral retina to detect colour change

Question 5

A controller has been monitoring a radar display for 30 minutes. A new aircraft track appears that differs from the established traffic pattern. Despite the difference, the controller takes 15 seconds to notice the new track. This delay is most consistent with:

Accepted Answer

Change blindness — the failure to notice changes in a complex visual scene when attention is not focused on the changing element

Answer

Slow processing speed due to fatigue after 30 minutes of monitoring

Answer

The new track being too small to be visually detected on the display

Answer

The controller's attention being drawn to a more critical established track

Question 6

Pattern recognition in ATC visual perception means:

Accepted Answer

The ability to rapidly match observed radar display configurations to familiar traffic patterns from training and experience

Answer

Recognising individual aircraft liveries on camera feeds at the airport

Answer

Reading and interpreting alphanumeric labels on radar tracks

Answer

Identifying weather patterns from meteorological display overlays