Which buttons will continue to operate if the EICAS control panel fails?

In the context of the Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) control panel, understanding which buttons remain operational following a failure is crucial for ongoing monitoring and safety. The correct answer highlights the buttons that allow pilots to assess the aircraft's status despite the malfunction.

The buttons 'PRI' (Primary), 'STAT' (Status), 'CAS' (Crew Alerting System), and 'STEP' are designed to provide essential information about the aircraft systems. The 'PRI' button is used to show the primary engine parameters, ensuring that fundamental data is still accessible. The 'STAT' button allows pilots to view the status of various systems, while the 'CAS' button provides critical crew alerts. 'STEP' enables cycling through different pages of displayed information, ensuring that the pilot can keep track of various indicators.

These functionalities are vital during a failure because even if the control panel itself experiences issues, having access to these specific buttons allows pilots to maintain situational awareness and make informed decisions regarding flight safety.

The other options include variations of components that either introduce buttons that are not operational after a failure or don’t maintain the same critical function as those in the correct response.