Escape from a crippled aircraft, be it a commercial aircraft, full of passengers, or a combat aircraft with one or two aircrew, ensuring a safe exit is the first and the paramount step towards survival. Unlike the combat aircraft with its ejection seats, transport aircraft, helicopter and most of the training aircraft, except jets, do …
The vestibular illusions are divided as per the affected sub-system viz. otolith organ or semicircular canals. Though there are many an illusions, only the common vestibular illusions have been briefly discussed.
Various visual illusions are enumerated here. Though there are many an illusions, only the common visual illusions have been briefly discussed.
Prevention of SD is a multi-pronged approach. Preventive strategies start with the selection of healthy candidates with normal vestibular function for aviation duties. The trained aircrew should make conscious and concerted efforts to be physically and mentally healthy, and if unwell or under medication – prescribed or self-medicated, must avoid flying under any circumstances for their …
Spatial Disorientation is ‘an erroneous sense of the magnitude or direction of any of the control or performance flight instruments’. Stated in the words of Benson, “Spatial disorientation is a state characterized by an erroneous sense of position, attitude, or motion of oneself or one’s aircraft in relation to a fixed, three dimensional co-ordinate system …