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New ASTB is being released! PLEASE READ!!!

LFCFan

*Insert nerd wings here*
This sounds a lot like the TBAS the AF uses. That thing was not much fun. What killed me about it was that the type of video games I play totally screwed me. I know full well that pulling back on the stick is up and pushing forward is down. This is never a problem in games where I fly aircraft or the time I flew one IRL. But for some reason chasing a dot on a blank screen felt more like I was playing a shooter, and I kept pushing the stick the wrong way! I did pretty good as far as task saturation went, but the lack of cues suggesting that you are in a plane (such as a horizon that moves, a target that looks like a Mig, anything) will probably screw some applicants.

I guess it was exactly what you'd expect from a bunch of video game nerds trying to recreate what it's like to actually fly an airplane with little to no personal experience.

It was probably largely designed by Aerospace Experimental Psychologists (AEPs) who do know what it is like to fly a plane. As for "passing it" - the cutoff/standards were likely set by the performance of you and the other folks in API.
 

texags

Active Member
pilot
We were one of the classes that took that thing in API as part of their research. What a nightmare...follow a vertically moving ball with the throttle while chasing a moving target around the screen with the stick. Then, every so often, you would have to listen up for a number and press a corresponding button in the stick. I can see how theoretically it tries to mimic task saturation in an aviation environment, but it was super hard and I dont think I could pass it even now.
I was part of a similar testing group. I remember thinking what a horrible system it was. Hopefully they have made some improvements.
 

kazom

New Member
So does anyone have an idea as to how scores from the current ASTB (Forms 3, 4, and 5) will be used after Dec 9? will those scores still last for a lifetime, or will they be discarded (either immediately or after a period of time) and applicants required to take the new ASTB if applying for a board after Dec 9?
 

Bam Bam

FTS AMDO
We were one of the classes that took that thing in API as part of their research. What a nightmare...follow a vertically moving ball with the throttle while chasing a moving target around the screen with the stick. Then, every so often, you would have to listen up for a number and press a corresponding button in the stick. I can see how theoretically it tries to mimic task saturation in an aviation environment, but it was super hard and I don't think I could pass it even now.
This may sound crazy, but I was part of the test bed for this in the AF. During my enlisted basic training in 1999, they took us to a room and had all of us take this test. They explained the test to us and told us to just relax and follow the ball. We had the rudder pedals, throttle and joy stick. After the test, they told us we were part of a test program to see how non-aviation folks respond to the test. It was pretty cool. It also solidified my desire to become an aircraft maintainer.

Years later, I took my AFOQT (AF equivalent of ATSB) because I was considering becoming a pilot. I was one of the last AF bubbas to not have to take the "new" test described above. This all happened in 2006.

Good times!
 
I do think that the new test involving the videogame-like process is way better than the paper test. I remember having to look at a grainy two dimensional image and try and interpret that as a horizon. That wasn't a great way to test anything. I think they did a decent job with this, and I don't think there's really a pass/fail, just a score that falls on a bell curve.
 

wlawr005

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
It was probably largely designed by Aerospace Experimental Psychologists (AEPs) who do know what it is like to fly a plane. As for "passing it" - the cutoff/standards were likely set by the performance of you and the other folks in API.
Well, I did my part...standards should be pretty low.
 

LawlessNavyman

New Member
So here is a question for you all. I haven't taken the older forms of the test yet 3,4,5. I am ready and about to schedule them for next week because I have been studying for them with the help from here but talking with the recruiter I'm dealing with, he puts it in terms that I should wait to take the new one because the boards maybe look better for someone that took the new one versus the older one because the new one is supposed to be closer to the real thing. I haven't finished my degree yet and won't til September next year. So my question to you all is, what should I do? Take the older forms because I feel a little more confident with them or do I wait for the new one to come out and take my chances with this new flight simulator deal and maybe not score as well. The recruiter even said it's pretty intimidating and can be overwhelming.

AT1 (AW) E-6, 7 years active duty in December
NFO/Pilot
ASTB: scheduling
AS Electronics Coastline Community College
AS Professional Aeronautics Embry-Riddle completed
BS Professional Aeronautics Embry-Riddle Grad: 1 Sep 14
Evals (chronological): MP, EP transfer, MP.
LORs- (IW)
Appraisal Interviews- (IW)
Awards: NAM, Good Conduct x2
Activities/Accolades: 500+ community service hours (leading), Master Training Specialist, IOQ/SOQ nominations, Instructor Duty.
 

jtmedli

Well-Known Member
pilot
This sounds exactly like the AF TBAS thing. And that test is ridiculous. Chasing completely uncoordinated movements of the 'targets' =/= a good pilot. The movements of the stick and rudder skills required by those of us pilot types are highly coordinated (i.e. right pedal for collective pull or left pedal for power in fixed wing props). So not sure what they think they're accomplishing with this test. They could've just spent this time and money improving the written ASTB with better problems and pictures.
 

Flash

SEVAL/ECMO
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
......It was probably largely designed by Aerospace Experimental Psychologists (AEPs) who do know what it is like to fly a plane. As for "passing it" - the cutoff/standards were likely set by the performance of you and the other folks in API.

You sure about that? Getting a few hours every 6 months doesn't mean they know what it is like to fly.
 

Tycho_Brohe

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
What should I do?
If you did well with the Aeronautics degree, I'd take a shot at the old version first. If I recall correctly, it shares quite a few classes with the Aero Sci degree, which I have, and I think it helped me out a ton preparing me for the ASTB.
Plus that damn simulator drove me nuts. I got a chance to try it in API as well, and it was a total PITA. Even with a commercial license, I'd hate to stake my career on how well I could do on that thing. The personality test, too, that was ridiculous. Half of us were laughing while we were taking it.
Anyway, cram the gouge a bit more and take the old version. At least, that's what I would do. And then if you really want to, you can retake with the new version.
 

Nuknfuts

New Member
So this thing is finally comin out? I remember hearing about this back in 09

They've been having new students checking into API test it out as recently as a few months ago. I remember taking it and the lack of responsiveness from the stick/throttle annoyed me, as did the whole inverted/non-inverted joystick part of it. The score they give is based on a bell curve so it was interesting to see how one compares to the rest of the test takers. And hey, apparently I was in the top 1% for the parking lot direction test
 

LFCFan

*Insert nerd wings here*
You sure about that? Getting a few hours every 6 months doesn't mean they know what it is like to fly.

It probably depends on what you mean by "what it's like" - obviously they don't have the same experience as a career aviator, but it is a lot better than being a bunch of nerds who have no clue whatsoever, which is what was implied by the post I quoted. As I understand AEPs used to get a lot more flight time and training than they do these days, so mileage may vary depending on when they went through the training pipeline. Still, to my knowledge at no point has it been close to what the actual aviators fly. Either way, it might not be entirely relevant as the task is artificial and probably not intended to be an actual flight simulation (if it is anything like the USAF TBAS, which it sounds a lot like to me).
 

ea6bflyr

Working Class Bum
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Some background on the new ASTB-E from NAMI Pensacola:
NEW ASTB FAQ: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/Pages/ASTBFrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx
and
NEW ASTB OVERVIEW: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/Pages/ASTBOverview.aspx

This one peaked my interest:

Why were the old forms of the ASTB replaced?

There are several reasons for the introduction of new ASTB-E. The primary reason is that the inclusion of the new subtests gives the ASTB-E even more predictive power than previous versions of the test had, yielding even more accuracy in selecting aviation candidates likely to perform well in training.
 
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