Disorientation Flashcards
spatial disorientation
the inability of a pilot to correctly interpret aircraft attitude, altitude or airspeed in relation to the Earth or other points of reference
Balance organs
The semicircular canals and the Otolith organ.
Very small two part organs located in the inner ear.
Semicircular cannals
3 fluid filled cannals mounted at right angles to eachother. Sense acceleration of head in 3 different planes.
Not stimulated by sub threshold stimulations
Pitch, roll, yaw axis
The leans
Through stabilization of the fluid in the semicircular canals, a pilot may perceive straight and level flight while actually in a banked turn.
Otolith organs
Adjacent to semicircular canels. Tiny jelly like mass situated ontop of vertical hairs. Senses head tilt and longitudional accleeration.
Can misinterpret forwards aceleration as tilt backards or steep climb.
Pressure/stretch/position nerve system
Network of nerve receptors around the body comprising pressure area receptors, muscle stretch receptors, and limb position receptors. Pressure receptors allow sence of pressure due to force of gravity. Muscle stretch adn limb position receptors allow the brain to know where limbs are positioned in space without visual reference.
Which receptors are the bodys G meter
Pressure area receptors.
Eye and ballance organ interconnections
Strong reflex interaction between eyes and ballance organs, allows accurate visual tracking of surrounding objects, even when body and head moving quite rapidly
What is vertigo
A sudden internal or external spinning sensation, often triggered by moving your head too quickly. Made worse by infection of middle or inner ear
Disorientation
When encountered orientation conditions exceed the limit
Two types of disorientation
Pilot aware disorientation
Pilot unaware diosrientation
Flicker vertigo
Rapid flickering of bright light can cause pilot to experience dizziness and feel unwell.
Spatial disorientation on instruments
Instrument flying increases potential to become spatially disorientated
Motion sickness
Mismatch of information from eyes and ballance organs reaching brain can cause feeling of general unwellness, nausea, paleness, clammy skin, cold sweats, vomiting.
Medicated skin patches side effects
Blurry vision, dry mount, must be applied hours in advance
