Combined Tracking Coordination Flashcards

In the Combined Tracking Coordination subtest of the TBAS, which controls are used to manage the two separate visual tracking tasks?

Answer: Rudder pedals for horizontal tracking, joystick for vertical tracking.

This subtest is designed to assess limb coordination by splitting the control axes between different inputs. The feet manage the horizontal target via rudder pedals, while the hand manages the vertical target via the joystick.

A candidate is performing the Combined Tracking Coordination task. The horizontal target is drifting left, the vertical target is centered, and their pre-briefed target number "7" is announced. What is the most appropriate immediate sequence of actions?

Answer: Press the trigger to respond to the auditory cue, then apply right rudder pedal.

The auditory cues are fleeting, time-sensitive events that must be responded to immediately, or the opportunity is lost. The tracking tasks are continuous and allow for a momentary delay in correction without an immediate failure. Therefore, the highest priority is to respond to the auditory number first, then correct the tracking error.

What is the primary cognitive challenge introduced in the Combined Tracking Coordination subtest that is not present when its component tasks are performed individually?

Answer: Divided attention

While the individual tasks measure motor skills and auditory processing, the core purpose of combining them is to assess a candidate's ability to divide their attention and effectively manage multiple, unrelated stimuli and tasks at once—a critical skill for pilots.

Which of the following real-world aviation scenarios is most accurately simulated by the specific skill set tested in the Combined Tracking Coordination subtest?

Answer: Maintaining a precise instrument approach path with control stick and rudder pedals while responding to Air Traffic Control instructions.

The subtest mirrors the demands of a critical flight phase like an instrument approach, which requires continuous, fine motor inputs with both hands (joystick) and feet (rudder pedals) to maintain a flight path, while simultaneously processing and responding to critical auditory information from ATC.

During the Combined Tracking Coordination test, a candidate consistently responds correctly to the auditory cues and keeps the vertical target centered, but their horizontal tracking score is poor. This specific pattern of performance most likely indicates a difficulty with:

Answer: Foot-eye coordination using the rudder pedals.

The candidate is successfully managing the auditory task (ears/trigger finger) and the vertical tracking task (hand/joystick). The isolated failure is in the horizontal tracking task, which is controlled by the rudder pedals. This points directly to a weakness in foot-eye coordination or control with that specific input device.

Which of the following correctly identifies the three distinct, simultaneous tasks required in the most complex version of the Combined Tracking Coordination subtest?

Answer: Horizontal tracking with rudder pedals, two-dimensional tracking with a joystick, and responding to auditory number targets.

The test explicitly combines three primary tasks: using rudder pedals to track a target horizontally, using a joystick to track another target in two dimensions (which includes the vertical axis), and responding to specific, pre-briefed numbers presented aurally.