topics:spatial_disorientation_illusions
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topics:spatial_disorientation_illusions [2018/08/20 15:55] evan |
topics:spatial_disorientation_illusions [2018/08/20 19:47] (current) evan [Coping with Spatial Disorientation] |
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| pilot pulling the aircraft into a nose-up or stall attitude. | pilot pulling the aircraft into a nose-up or stall attitude. | ||
| - | Inversion Illusion | + | ==== Inversion Illusion ==== |
| An abrupt change from climb to straight-and-level flight can | An abrupt change from climb to straight-and-level flight can | ||
| stimulate the otolith organs enough to create the illusion of | stimulate the otolith organs enough to create the illusion of | ||
| Line 62: | Line 63: | ||
| ==== False Horizon ==== | ==== False Horizon ==== | ||
| - | A sloping cloud formation, an obscured horizon, an aurora | + | A **sloping cloud formation**, an obscured horizon, an aurora |
| borealis, a dark scene spread with ground lights and stars, | borealis, a dark scene spread with ground lights and stars, | ||
| and certain geometric patterns of ground lights can provide | and certain geometric patterns of ground lights can provide | ||
| Line 70: | Line 71: | ||
| dangerous attitude. | dangerous attitude. | ||
| - | Autokinesis | + | ==== Autokinesis ==== |
| - | When flying in the dark, a stationary light may appear to | + | |
| - | move if it is stared at for a prolonged period of time. As | + | When flying in the dark, a **stationary light may appear to |
| + | move if it is stared at for a prolonged period of time**. As | ||
| a result, a pilot may attempt to align the aircraft with the | a result, a pilot may attempt to align the aircraft with the | ||
| perceived moving light potentially causing him/her to lose | perceived moving light potentially causing him/her to lose | ||
| control of the aircraft. This illusion is known as “autokinesis.” | control of the aircraft. This illusion is known as “autokinesis.” | ||
| - | Coping with Spatial Disorientation | + | ===== Coping with Spatial Disorientation ===== |
| To prevent illusions and their potentially disastrous | To prevent illusions and their potentially disastrous | ||
| consequences, pilots can: | consequences, pilots can: | ||
| - | 1. Understand the causes of these illusions and remain | + | - Understand the causes of these illusions and remain constantly alert for them. Take the opportunity to experience spatial disorientation illusions in a device, such as a Barany chair, a Vertigon, or a Virtual Reality Spatial Disorientation Demonstrator. |
| - | constantly alert for them. Take the opportunity to | + | - Always obtain and understand preflight weather briefings. |
| - | experience spatial disorientation illusions in a device, | + | - Before flying in marginal visibility (less than 3 miles) or where a visible horizon is not evident, such as flight over open water during the night, obtain training and maintain proficiency in aircraft control by reference to instruments. |
| - | such as a Barany chair, a Vertigon, or a Virtual Reality | + | - Do not fly into adverse weather conditions or into dusk or darkness unless proficient in the use of flight instruments. If intending to fly at night, maintain night-flight currency and proficiency. Include crosscountry and local operations at various airfields. |
| - | Spatial Disorientation Demonstrator. | + | - Ensure that when outside visual references are used, they are reliable, fixed points on the Earth’s surface. |
| - | 2. Always obtain and understand preflight weather | + | - Avoid sudden head movement, particularly during takeoffs, turns, and approaches to landing. |
| - | briefings. | + | - Be physically tuned for flight into reduced visibility. Ensure proper rest, adequate diet, and, if flying at night, allow for night adaptation. Remember that illness, medication, alcohol, fatigue, sleep loss, and mild hypoxia are likely to increase susceptibility to spatial disorientation. |
| - | 3. Before flying in marginal visibility (less than 3 miles) | + | - Most importantly, become proficient in the use of flight instruments and rely upon them. Trust the instruments and disregard your sensory perceptions. |
| - | or where a visible horizon is not evident, such as flight | + | |
| - | over open water during the night, obtain training and | + | |
| - | maintain proficiency in aircraft control by reference | + | |
| - | to instruments. | + | |
| - | 4. Do not fly into adverse weather conditions or into | + | |
| - | dusk or darkness unless proficient in the use of flight | + | |
| - | instruments. If intending to fly at night, maintain | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | night-flight currency and proficiency. Include crosscountry | + | |
| - | and local operations at various airfields. | + | |
| - | 5. Ensure that when outside visual references are used, | + | |
| - | they are reliable, fixed points on the Earth’s surface. | + | |
| - | 6. Avoid sudden head movement, particularly during | + | |
| - | takeoffs, turns, and approaches to landing. | + | |
| - | 7. Be physically tuned for flight into reduced visibility. | + | |
| - | Ensure proper rest, adequate diet, and, if flying at | + | |
| - | night, allow for night adaptation. Remember that | + | |
| - | illness, medication, alcohol, fatigue, sleep loss, and | + | |
| - | mild hypoxia are likely to increase susceptibility to | + | |
| - | spatial disorientation. | + | |
| - | 8. Most importantly, become proficient in the use of | + | |
| - | flight instruments and rely upon them. Trust the | + | |
| - | instruments and disregard your sensory perceptions. | + | |
| ===== Optical Illusions ===== | ===== Optical Illusions ===== | ||
| - | Runway Width Illusion -- A narrower-than-usual runway can create an illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is | + | {{ :topics:runwayillusions.png?direct&400 |}} |
| + | |||
| + | **Runway Width Illusion** -- A narrower-than-usual runway can create an illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is | ||
| - | Runway and Terrain Slopes Illusion -- An upsloping runway, upsloping terrain, or both can create an | + | **Runway and Terrain Slopes Illusion** -- An upsloping runway, upsloping terrain, or both can create an |
| illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is. | illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is. | ||
| - | Featureless Terrain Illusion -- An absence of surrounding ground features, as in an overwater approach over darkened areas or terrain made featureless by snow, can create an illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is. | + | **Featureless Terrain Illusion** -- An absence of surrounding ground features, as in an overwater approach over darkened areas or terrain made featureless by snow, can create an illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is. |
| + | **Water Refraction** -- Rain on the windscreen can create an illusion of being at a higher altitude due to the horizon appearing lower than it is. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Haze** -- Atmospheric haze can create an illusion of being at a greater distance and height from the runway. As a result, the pilot has a tendency to be low on the approach. | ||
| + | **Fog** -- Flying into fog can create an illusion of pitching up. Pilots who do not recognize this illusion often steepen the approach abruptly | ||
topics/spatial_disorientation_illusions.1534780550.txt.gz · Last modified: 2018/08/20 15:55 by evan
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