Airsickness and Disorientation - ATP Flight School Flashcards
By ATP Flight School. Reviews aeromedical factors concepts: airsickness and disorientation.
ATPFlightSchool.com
What causes motion sickness/airsickness?
The brain receiving conflicting messages fabout the state of the body from the eyes versus the inner ear.
ATPFlightSchool.com
What are common symptoms of motion sickness?
General discomfort, nausea, dizziness, paleness, sweating, vomiting.
ATPFlightSchool.com
If a new student pilot experiences motion sickness, is this cause for concern?
Generally, no. Motion sickness usually goes away within the first few lessons.
ATPFlightSchool.com
How can pilots avoid motion sickness?
Avoid flights in turbulent conditions. Start with short lessons and work up to longer flights.
ATPFlightSchool.com
What can pilots do to treat motion sickness if it occurs in flight?
Open fresh air vents, focus on objects outside the airplane, avoid unneccessary head movements, terminate the flight.
ATPFlightSchool.com
What is spatial disorientation?
A lack of orientation with regard to the position, attitude, or movement of the airplane in space.
ATPFlightSchool.com
What three systems provide the brain with information on the body’s orientation and movement?
Visual (eyes), vestibular (inner ear), somatosensory (nerves in skin/muscles/joints - “seat of the pants”)
ATPFlightSchool.com
Which system is the body’s primary orientation source?
The visual system, which is why spatial disorientation is much more likely in IMC than in VMC.
ATPFlightSchool.com
List some ways to prevent spatial disorientation.
Understand why illusions occur and remain alert for them. Obtain a preflight weather briefing and use it to avoid poor visibility. Avoid sudden head movements. If intending to fly at night, remain night current and proficient. If flying in marginal visibility or IMC, remain instrument proficient. Remain physically fit for flight. Place your trust in the flight instruments and disregard your sensory perceptions.
ATPFlightSchool.com
What are some examples of illusions that can lead to spatial disorientation?
The leans, Coriolis illusion, graveyard spiral, somatogravic illusion, inversion illusion, elevator illusion, false horizon, autokinesis.
ATPFlightSchool.com
Describe the leans.
Vestibular system cannot detect slow roll rates. Slow, undetectable roll to one side followed by quick, detectable roll to wings level creates illusion of bank in the opposite direction. (Pilots tend to lean to what feels like vertical until the feeling goes away.)
ATPFlightSchool.com
Describe the Coriolis illusion.
In an extended constant-rate turn, fluid in ear canal eventually moves at same speed as the canal, and sensation of turning stops. Moving the head in a different plane can start fluid moving again and create illusion of turn on a totally different axis. Avoid by not making sudden head movements.
ATPFlightSchool.com
Describe the graveyard spiral.
Pilot unwittingly enters a shallow turn (often due to a case of the leans). Pilot notices the loss of altitude but not the turn, and adds back pressure to correct. This tightens the turn and increases the loss of altitude. Unless pilot corrects to wings level, spiral will continue to tighten until control is lost or aircraft hits ground.
ATPFlightSchool.com
Describe the somatogravic illusion.
Rapid forwards acceleration creates the illusion of being in a nose-high attitude. (Both push you back in your seat.) Disoriented pilot reacts by pushing the nose down. The same can happen in reverse when the aircraft decelerates.
ATPFlightSchool.com
Describe the inversion illusion.
Abrupt change from climb to straight-and-level flight causes the illusion of tumbling backwards.
