FEAST vs NAV Canada

FEAST vs NAV Canada: what is the difference?

FEAST and NAV Canada selection are different air traffic services assessment systems.

FEAST stands for First European Air Traffic Controller Selection Test. It is a test battery used by participating air navigation service providers, academies, universities, and aviation training organizations to help assess candidates for air traffic controller training.

NAV Canada is Canada’s air navigation service provider and uses its own recruitment and selection process for Canadian air traffic services candidates.

The biggest difference is the recruitment system:

• FEAST is used by participating aviation organizations, commonly in European or FEAST-user selection processes.
• NAV Canada selection is used for Canadian air traffic services recruitment and training pathways.

Both can involve aptitude testing and assessment of ATC-relevant skills, but they are not the same test.

Quick comparison

FEAST = First European Air Traffic Controller Selection Test
NAV Canada = Canadian air navigation service provider selection process

FEAST: used by participating ANSPs, academies, universities, and aviation organizations.
NAV Canada: used for Canadian air traffic services recruitment and training.

FEAST: commonly discussed as Part 1, Part 2, and FEAST III where used.
NAV Canada: follows NAV Canada’s own application, assessment, interview, and training selection process.

Candidates should prepare for the exact process they are invited to complete.

What is FEAST?

FEAST is a test battery used to help assess candidates for air traffic controller training.

It may assess:

• attention
• memory
• spatial reasoning
• English comprehension
• logical reasoning
• multitasking
• dynamic tracking
• reaction accuracy
• workload control
• personality or work-style traits, where used

FEAST is commonly discussed in stages:

• FEAST Part 1
• FEAST Part 2
• FEAST III personality questionnaire, where used

Related page: What is FEAST?

What is NAV Canada selection?

NAV Canada selection is the recruitment and assessment process used for air traffic services candidates in Canada.

Depending on the stream and current recruitment process, candidates may complete stages such as:

• online application
• eligibility screening
• online assessments
• aptitude testing
• interviews
• assessment activities
• medical or security checks
• training offer or placement decision

NAV Canada may recruit for different air traffic services roles, such as air traffic controller or flight service specialist pathways. Candidates should always follow NAV Canada’s current official recruitment instructions.

FEAST and NAV Canada are not interchangeable

FEAST and NAV Canada selection are not two names for the same test.

They belong to different recruitment systems.

A candidate applying to a FEAST-user organization should not prepare as if they are applying to NAV Canada.

A candidate applying to NAV Canada should not prepare as if they are taking FEAST.

Some underlying skills may overlap, but the official process, task format, score reporting, eligibility rules, retakes, and next steps are different.

Where FEAST is used

FEAST may be used by participating aviation organizations, including:

• air navigation service providers
• ATC academies
• universities with aviation programs
• aviation training organizations
• recruitment bodies involved in ATC selection

The organization that invited you controls the exact process.

Related page: Air traffic controller test Europe

Where NAV Canada selection is used

NAV Canada selection is used for Canadian air traffic services recruitment.

Candidates applying through NAV Canada should rely on official NAV Canada instructions for:

• role eligibility
• application windows
• assessment stages
• testing format
• interview requirements
• training locations
• medical requirements
• security checks
• result communication
• retake or reapplication rules

Do not rely on FEAST guidance as your main source for NAV Canada selection.

FEAST format vs NAV Canada format

FEAST is commonly discussed as a staged test battery.

A simplified FEAST structure may include:

FEAST Part 1
↓
FEAST Part 2
↓
FEAST III personality questionnaire, if used

NAV Canada selection follows its own recruitment process.

A simplified NAV Canada-style process may include:

Application
↓
Eligibility screening
↓
Online assessments
↓
Further testing or interviews
↓
Medical and security checks
↓
Training selection or offer

These are simplified examples only. Always follow official instructions from the organization managing your application.

FEAST Part 1 vs NAV Canada assessments

FEAST Part 1 is commonly associated with cognitive ability tests and English language testing.

It may involve:

• attention
• memory
• spatial reasoning
• logical reasoning
• visual perception
• English comprehension
• instruction reading
• timed accuracy

NAV Canada assessments may also evaluate abilities relevant to air traffic services, but candidates should not assume the format is the same as FEAST Part 1.

Related page: FEAST Part 1

FEAST Part 2 vs NAV Canada assessments

FEAST Part 2 is commonly associated with more complex multitasking and dynamic task performance.

It may involve:

• multitasking
• dynamic monitoring
• rule application
• prioritization
• attention switching
• workload control
• reaction accuracy
• moving-object tracking

NAV Canada selection may also assess cognitive and behavioural traits relevant to operational training, but the format and scoring belong to NAV Canada’s own process.

Related page: FEAST Part 2

English and language requirements

FEAST Part 1 is commonly described as including an English language component.

For FEAST candidates, English preparation may involve:

• reading comprehension
• grammar in context
• vocabulary in context
• instruction understanding
• condition words
• comparison words
• aviation-related basic vocabulary

NAV Canada candidates should verify current language requirements directly through NAV Canada’s official process. Canada’s aviation environment may involve English and, in some contexts, French-language considerations depending on role and location.

Do not assume FEAST English requirements and NAV Canada language requirements are identical.

Related page: FEAST English test

Personality and work-style assessment

Both FEAST-user processes and NAV Canada selection may consider personality, work style, judgment, or behavioural fit.

For FEAST, this is commonly discussed as FEAST III, a personality questionnaire available to and used by many FEAST user organizations.

FEAST personality preparation should focus on:

• honesty
• consistency
• responsibility
• teamwork
• emotional stability
• rule-following
• stress tolerance
• communication
• safety awareness

NAV Canada candidates should follow the specific instructions for any personality, interview, or behavioural assessment included in their process.

Related page: FEAST personality test

Scoring: FEAST vs NAV Canada

FEAST and NAV Canada selection use different scoring and result systems.

For FEAST:

• score reporting depends on the organization
• candidates may receive pass/fail only
• detailed score breakdowns may not be provided
• pass rules vary
• retake rules vary

For NAV Canada:

• result communication follows NAV Canada’s recruitment process
• candidates should rely on official NAV Canada emails or portal updates
• scoring details may not be fully disclosed
• next steps depend on the current recruitment stream and candidate status

Do not compare FEAST results directly with NAV Canada assessment outcomes.

Related page: FEAST results

Passing score: FEAST vs NAV Canada

There is no universal public FEAST passing score that applies to every candidate.

FEAST passing rules depend on:

• organization
• country
• recruitment campaign
• stage
• local policy
• candidate pool
• training capacity

NAV Canada assessment outcomes are governed by NAV Canada’s own selection process.

Candidates should not compare FEAST pass/fail status to NAV Canada selection status as if they were equivalent.

Related page: FEAST passing score

Retakes: FEAST vs NAV Canada

Retake and reapplication rules differ.

For FEAST, retake eligibility may depend on:

• ANSP policy
• country
• stage failed
• previous attempts
• waiting period
• result validity
• recruitment campaign
• whether results are shared

For NAV Canada, retake or reapplication rules are governed by NAV Canada’s current recruitment policy and candidate instructions.

Do not assume that FEAST retake rules apply to NAV Canada or that NAV Canada rules apply to FEAST.

Related page: Can you retake FEAST?

Preparation overlap between FEAST and NAV Canada

Some preparation areas overlap because both processes relate to air traffic services selection.

Useful shared skill areas may include:

• attention
• working memory
• spatial reasoning
• rule application
• reaction accuracy
• multitasking
• time pressure
• decision-making
• mistake recovery
• calm performance under stress

However, shared skills do not make the tests identical.

Prepare for the exact process you are taking.

How FEAST candidates should prepare

If you are taking FEAST, focus on:

• official FEAST instructions
• FEAST format
• FEAST Part 1
• FEAST Part 2
• English comprehension
• memory
• attention
• spatial reasoning
• cube folding
• multitasking
• dynamic radar-style tasks
• ethical practice

Useful pages:

• How to prepare for FEAST
• FEAST test prep
• FEAST practice test

How NAV Canada candidates should prepare

If you are applying to NAV Canada, focus on official NAV Canada candidate instructions and current recruitment guidance.

Useful preparation areas may include:

• reading official emails carefully
• understanding the role stream
• practicing cognitive aptitude skills
• practicing attention and memory
• practicing spatial reasoning
• preparing for timed assessments
• preparing for interviews if invited
• understanding medical and security requirements
• avoiding unofficial leaked-content claims

Do not use FEAST-specific assumptions as your main NAV Canada strategy.

Which is harder: FEAST or NAV Canada selection?

There is no universal answer.

Difficulty depends on:

• the candidate’s strengths
• the assessment stage
• timing pressure
• spatial reasoning ability
• multitasking ability
• language comfort
• test anxiety
• interview performance
• current recruitment process
• preparation quality

Some candidates may find FEAST harder. Others may find NAV Canada selection harder.

The useful question is not which process is harder in general. The useful question is which skills you need to improve for the process you are actually taking.

Can FEAST practice help with NAV Canada selection?

Some FEAST-style practice may help build general air traffic services selection skills such as attention, memory, spatial reasoning, and multitasking.

However, FEAST practice should not be treated as NAV Canada-specific preparation.

If you are applying to NAV Canada, use NAV Canada-specific instructions and prepare for NAV Canada’s current selection process.

Can NAV Canada practice help with FEAST?

Some NAV Canada-style aptitude practice may help with general cognitive skills.

However, NAV Canada preparation should not replace FEAST-specific preparation.

FEAST candidates should still prepare for:

• FEAST Part 1
• FEAST Part 2
• English language component
• FEAST-style multitasking
• DART or MULTI-PASS concepts where relevant
• personality questionnaire where used
• organization-specific instructions

Common FEAST vs NAV Canada mistakes

Avoid these mistakes:

• thinking FEAST and NAV Canada selection are the same
• using Canadian process assumptions for a FEAST test
• using FEAST-specific assumptions for NAV Canada selection
• comparing scores across systems
• assuming retake rules are the same
• assuming language requirements are identical
• ignoring official instructions
• relying only on forums
• memorizing unofficial task descriptions
• using leaked or unauthorized content

The correct process is the one described by the organization that invited you.

Ethical preparation for both processes

Whether you are preparing for FEAST or NAV Canada selection, prepare ethically.

Avoid:

• leaked test questions
• screenshots from real sessions
• copied official items
• confidential task descriptions
• unauthorized answer keys
• exact-replica claims
• sharing protected test content after testing

Train the underlying abilities. Do not try to bypass the selection process.

What to verify officially

Before taking FEAST, verify with your ANSP, academy, university, recruiter, or aviation organization:

• test date
• test stage
• location or online method
• identification requirements
• allowed and prohibited items
• official familiarization material
• result process
• retake policy

Before completing NAV Canada selection, verify through official NAV Canada communication:

• current application status
• assessment requirements
• test scheduling process
• testing instructions
• allowed and prohibited items
• language requirements
• medical or security requirements
• result communication
• next hiring steps

If this guide conflicts with your official instructions, follow the official source.

Bottom line

FEAST and NAV Canada selection are different air traffic services assessment systems.

FEAST is associated with participating European and international aviation organizations. NAV Canada uses its own recruitment and selection process for Canadian air traffic services candidates.

Some cognitive skills overlap, but the format, scoring, results, retakes, and recruitment process are different. Prepare for the specific process you are invited to complete.

Preparation resources

NAV CANADA communications should drive what you buy. Still, some candidates compare catalogs side by side before deciding.

You may skim: FEAST 2–oriented notes, FAA ATSA–oriented prep, and general ATC aptitude pages from JobTestPrep. Publisher: JobTestPrep.

Verify pricing and refund rules on the vendor site before purchasing.

Frequently asked questions