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. Continue reading
Spatial Disorientation – Vestibular Illusions
Spatial Disorientation – Visual Illusions
Various visual illusions are enumerated here. Though there are many an illusions, only the common visual illusions have been briefly discussed. Continue reading
Spatial Disorientation: Prevention
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 safety and that of the passengers. In addition, pilots must be indoctrinated about physiological limitations, which may result in different types of illusions. Such an indoctrination is advocated using both didactic lectures and demonstration and training in a SD simulator, if available.
Spatial Disorientation: An Introduction
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 defined by the surface of the earth and the gravitational vertical. In addition, this also includes errors of perception by the aviator of his position, attitude or motion with respect to his aircraft or of his own aircraft relative to other aircraft”. Continue reading
Orientation in Aviation
Man’s desire to soar into the sky led to the departure from his natural habitat. This resulted in a mismatch between the orientation demands of the new environment and his innate ability to orient. Motion stimuli in aviation differ in magnitude, direction, frequency and in the degrees of freedom from that experienced on the ground. The human orientation sensory system, unable to cope with such dynamic, ever-changing scenario, results in a mismatch between human sensory limitation and dynamic motion of the flight. This mismatch is referred to as Spatial Disorientation and the physiological limitations of the sensory system result in pilots experiencing illusory sensations of position, attitude or motion in flight. Before understanding disorientation, here is a brief recapitulation of basics of orientation. Continue reading