TBAS - Test of Basic Aviation Skills Horizontal Tracking Control Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary control input used to manipulate the tracking box in the Horizontal Tracking Control subtest of the TBAS?
- Joystick
- Mouse
- Rudder Pedals (Correct answer)
- Keyboard
Correct answer: Rudder Pedals
The Horizontal Tracking Control subtest specifically requires the use of rudder pedals to move the tracking box left and right, assessing the candidate's foot-eye coordination.
Question 2: A candidate is performing the Horizontal Tracking Control test and notices the target airplane, which was moving at a steady pace, suddenly speeds up. What is the most likely cause for this increase in difficulty?
- It is a random event to test reaction time.
- The test is approaching its time limit.
- The candidate has failed to track the target accurately.
- The candidate has successfully kept the box over the target for a period of time. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The candidate has successfully kept the box over the target for a period of time.
The TBAS Horizontal Tracking subtest is adaptive; the difficulty, including the target's speed, increases as the test-taker demonstrates proficiency by successfully tracking the airplane.
Question 3: Which of the following scenarios accurately describes the main objective of the standalone Horizontal Tracking Control test?
- Use a joystick to keep a reticle on a target moving in all directions.
- Use rudder pedals to keep a box centered over an icon that moves only left and right. (Correct answer)
- Simultaneously use a joystick and rudder pedals to track two different targets.
- Listen for specific numbers while using a mouse to click on a moving box.
Correct answer: Use rudder pedals to keep a box centered over an icon that moves only left and right.
The core task of the Horizontal Tracking Control subtest is to use rudder pedals to control a box and keep it superimposed on a target moving strictly along a horizontal axis at the bottom of the screen.
Question 4: During the Horizontal Tracking test, the target airplane is moving steadily towards the left side of the screen. Besides hitting the screen edge, what other event will cause the target to change direction?
- A random timer expiring.
- The candidate pressing down on both rudder pedals at once.
- Sustained successful tracking of the target for several seconds. (Correct answer)
- The introduction of an auditory distraction.
Correct answer: Sustained successful tracking of the target for several seconds.
The test is programmed so that if a participant successfully keeps the tracking box over the airplane for multiple seconds, the airplane will change direction, testing the candidate's reactive abilities.
Question 5: The Horizontal Tracking Control portion of the TBAS is fundamentally designed to assess a candidate's proficiency in which area?
- Spatial orientation and map reading.
- Short-term memory recall.
- Psychomotor skills and foot-eye coordination. (Correct answer)
- Auditory processing and multitasking.
Correct answer: Psychomotor skills and foot-eye coordination.
This subtest directly measures psychomotor abilities, specifically the fine motor skills required to coordinate foot movements with visual tracking tasks, which is a crucial skill for pilots.
Question 6: In the more complex, combined-task portions of the TBAS, the Horizontal Tracking Control task is performed simultaneously with another activity. Which of the following tasks is most likely to be paired with it?
- Answering true/false questions via keyboard.
- Tracking a second target moving in two dimensions with a joystick. (Correct answer)
- Identifying aircraft silhouettes from a list.
- Solving complex mathematical equations.
Correct answer: Tracking a second target moving in two dimensions with a joystick.
A key feature of the TBAS is its assessment of multitasking. The Horizontal Tracking task (using rudder pedals) is combined with the Airplane Tracking Test, which requires using a joystick to follow a target moving across the entire screen.
TBAS - Test of Basic Aviation Skills Horizontal Tracking Control Questions and Answers
What is the primary control input used to manipulate the tracking box in the Horizontal Tracking Control subtest of the TBAS?