Aeromedical Factors

There are several objectives in demonstrating these various aircraft to approximately 45° bank attitude while maintaining maneuvers. heading and pitch attitude. This creates the illusion of a strong sense of rotation in the opposite direction. After this illusion 1. They teach pilots to understand the susceptibility of is noted, the pilot should open his or her eyes and observe the human system to spatial disorientation. that the aircraft is in a banked attitude. 2. They demonstrate that judgments of aircraft attitude based on bodily sensations are frequently false. Diving or Rolling Beyond the Vertical Plane 3. They help decrease the occurrence and degree This maneuver may produce extreme disorientation. While of disorientation through a better understanding in straight-and-level flight, the pilot should sit normally, of the relationship between aircraft motion, head either with eyes closed or gaze lowered to the floor. The movements, and resulting disorientation. instructor pilot starts a positive, coordinated roll toward a 4. They help instill a greater confidence in relying on 30° or 40° angle of bank. As this is in progress, the pilot flight instruments for assessing true aircraft attitude. tilts his or her head forward, looks to the right or left, then immediately returns his or her head to an upright position. A pilot should not attempt any of these maneuvers at The instructor pilot should time the maneuver so the roll is low altitudes or in the absence of an instructor pilot or an stopped as the pilot returns his or her head upright. An intense appropriate safety pilot. disorientation is usually produced by this maneuver, and the pilot experiences the sensation of falling downward into the direction of the roll. Climbing While Accelerating With the pilot’s eyes closed, the instructor pilot maintains In the descriptions of these maneuvers, the instructor pilot is approach airspeed in a straight-and-level attitude for several doing the flying, but having the pilot do the flying can also seconds, then accelerates while maintaining straight-and- be a very effective demonstration. The pilot should close his level attitude. The usual illusion during this maneuver, or her eyes and tilt the head to one side. The instructor pilot without visual references, is that the aircraft is climbing. tells the pilot what control inputs to perform. The pilot then attempts to establish the correct attitude or control input with Climbing While Turning eyes closed and head tilted. While it is clear the pilot has no With the pilot’s eyes still closed and the aircraft in a straight- idea of the actual attitude, he or she will react to what the and-level attitude, the instructor pilot now executes, with a senses are saying. After a short time, the pilot will become relatively slow entry, a well coordinated turn of about 1.5 disoriented and the instructor pilot will tell the pilot to look positive G (approximately 50° bank) for 90°. While in the up and recover. This exercise allows the pilot to experience turn, without outside visual references and under the effect of the disorientation while flying the aircraft. the slight positive G, the usual illusion produced is that of a climb. Upon sensing the climb, the pilot should immediately Coping with Spatial Disorientation open the eyes to see that a slowly established, coordinated To prevent illusions and their potentially disastrous turn produces the same sensation as a climb. consequences, pilots can: Diving While Turning 1. Understand the causes of these illusions and remain Repeating the previous procedure, but with the pilot’s constantly alert for them. Take the opportunity to eyes should be kept closed until recovery from the turn is experience spatial disorientation illusions in a device, approximately one-half completed, can create the illusion of such as a Barany chair, a Vertigon, or a Virtual Reality diving while turning. Spatial Disorientation Demonstrator. 2. Always obtain and understand preflight weather Tilting to Right or Left briefings. While in a straight-and-level attitude, with the pilot’s eyes 3. Before flying in marginal visibility (less than 3 miles) closed, the instructor pilot executes a moderate or slight skid or where a visible horizon is not evident, such as flight to the left with wings level. This creates the illusion of the over open water during the night, obtain training and body being tilted to the right. maintain proficiency in aircraft control by reference to instruments. Reversal of Motion 4. Do not fly into adverse weather conditions or into This illusion can be demonstrated in any of the three planes dusk or darkness unless proficient in the use of flight of motion. While straight and level, with the pilot’s eyes instruments. If intending to fly at night, maintain closed, the instructor pilot smoothly and positively rolls the 17-9