Shoup Airlines

The AFAST

The whuh? It stands for Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test and is the Army’s test for determining whether you, the soldier, have what it takes to pass their flight school. I find this interesting because I’ve seen many a ‘good stick’ that could single handedly land a 747 on a postage stamp. In gale force winds. Blindfolded. And sitting backwards. But then turn around and flunk the ground school portion of aviation. Unfortunate for them, but good for me because that’s one less person I have to worry about stealing my slot in flight school. Ah, but I’m digressing…

Anyways, in typical fashion, the Army threw another test at me with some real oddball questions. I’ll save the best for last. The test has a few sections designed so that you have to rush and possibly not answer all the questions. Incorrect answers also count against you, so you better be sure.

Using a common study guide company to familiarize myself with the test I came upon this section first. You have to choose the plane that most likely represents what the artificial horizon and compass are indicating if West is left and East is right. Fairly simple if you have some flight experience. I remember thinking surely the graphics on the test would be better than these horribly reproduced Korean War vintage photos of an F-84. I was right, the test version had hand drawn F-16s, but I guess because they used an F-16 they figured they needed to spice up the maneuver in each question. The test questions ended up being more difficult than the study guide. Moral: be careful what you wish for.

The next section was a little easier but with the same thought process. The photos they use in the test are going to be better quality than these right? Nope, even worse. We’re talking ditto machine quality and without the smell! I actually had to darken the scan a little bit to give a true representation of the actual test photos. You have to discern whether each series of photos depicts a helicpoter ascending or descending and banking left or right. Interestingly, the test had some series already starting in a bank which I hadn’t thought of, nor the study guide people for that matter.

The toughest section was called Complex Movements and for good reason too. You have to imagine the amount and direction of movement to put the black dot in the circled dot and then choose the arrows that indicate that movement. The catch? None of the arrows are intuitive. The up and down arrows indicate movement left or right and up or down for the left and right arrows. Thickness indicates amount of movement. By the way, you have five minutes to answer 30 questions. Oh yeah, for those thinking they can just draw the distances, the administrator will disqualify you immediately. Incorrect answers count against you. ‘Ugh’ is all I could muster after finishing that section.

As I mentioned, the best is always saved for last. To this point the test pretty much covers aeronautical knowledge, mechanical knowledge and skill under pressure. Then you turn the page and find Self-Description Form. This is one of those batteries that USUALLY tests personality and character qualities. You know the type: Of these four qualities, which are you the LEAST/MOST? Blah, blah, blah. But then the test took a step into the looking glass.

Is your mother afraid of flying?
If that hangs me up, Mom, it’s all your fault!

Are YOU afraid of flying?
I actually laughed out loud at that one.

Would you rather go to the dentist or pop a blister on your friend’s foot?
I kid you not

Would you rather go to the dentist or spit shine boots?
I don’t get the dentist fetish, there were 4 more of those!

Are you more apt to play sports or be a couch potato?
Now who in their right mind would choose couch potato?

Did you always have a date to all of your high school dances?
Seriously! This has to do with flying helicopters how?

Keep in mind, these questions were part of the final score. The kicker? The whole test was done on your basic four page scantron form, which the Lieutenant then proceeded to correct using a red transparent sheet with holes for the correct answers. You’re kidding me, there’s a correct answer to popping a blister or going to the dentist!?! I actually asked, he wouldn’t tell me.

As is par for military aptitude tests, they give you a results sheet but damned if they’re going to explain the results to you. So now I’m in search of hearsay answers on the net that will be suspect of accuracy until someone official can tell me otherwise. If they tell me…

Oh yeah, if you’re curious to the answers of the above examples:

Instrument Comprehension: D, B, C
Cyclic Orientation: Diving Right Bank and Climbing Right Bank
Complex Movements: C, E, A, D, E, D, A, B, A, B